Necks down and staring into our smartphones is a common scenario we often find ourselves in; scrolling through Instagram feeds or checking out new reels has become an inescapable part of life. For instance, the mandatory birthday selfies, group photos of friends or family vacations etc., indicate the increasing influence of social media.
What’s wrong with posting pictures or having an online presence? Well, nothing really, unless it has completely taken over your life, similar to children’s obsession with social media. According to a recent survey, 47 per cent of urban Indian parents reported that children aged 9-13 are addicted to social media apps, videos and online gaming.
Impact of Social Media on Kids
Most social media apps require users to be at least 13 years or older. Still, in a recent poll, parents indicated that 50% of children 10 to 12 years old and 33% of children 7 to 9 years old spend considerable time on social media. Although the impact of social media on kids is still undergoing research, the current analysis highlight concerning effects.
For instance, children younger than 11 years old using Instagram or Snapchat cause behavioural issues, including social awkwardness and having only online friends.
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Too Much Time Consumption
After returning from school or tuition, spending hours watching videos or chatting online on social media is not healthy. The worst effects include eyesight problems even before they reach their teenage, which eventually become more intense. Secondly, letting them be online for as long as they want will give them unbridled freedom.
Consequently, the lack of discipline will cause subsequent issues pertaining to academic performance. In addition, you may notice a change in their overall behaviour; increased irritability and anxiety are the most remarkable effects.
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Less Attention Span
The short-form video hosting application known as Tiktok started the trend of short videos, which is no longer being used in India, thanks to the nationwide ban of the app; however, other social media applications have developed the short videos feature.
Children already have a short attention span, so when they consume such content for an extended period of time, it negatively impacts their attention span. Therefore, they might often lose concentration or get distracted easily during class.
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Negative Cultural Influence
You might be aware that children at a tender age are prone to pick up behaviours, speech and actions and emulate them accordingly. Moreover, when they engage with online content, they might encounter dangerous viral trends and share too much information. On the other hand, online predators and cyberbullying are two other potential threats that parents need to think about.
Solutions to Reduce the impact of Social Media on Kids
We cannot take away their smartphones indefinitely or prevent them from accessing the internet till they reach 18 years of age. Besides, if you force them not to do something, they might end up doing it even more; so, what is the solution? The answer lies in small preventative measures and establishing ground rules for social media usage.
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Strict Rules for Usage of Social Media
Social media sites come with specific privacy settings, and no, they are not the same as parental control settings. The privacy settings allow users to control who they can communicate with and who can access their content. Moreover, you can limit screen time, wherein they can spend a specific amount of time on social media or the internet.
For instance, there are various web blocker apps that allow users to block apps; you can use these applications to prevent them from harmful websites or apps. Also, you can set the timer for daily social media usage; the feature enables apps to stop working automatically after a set time.
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Create a Schedule
The best nursery schools in Bangalore advise parents to create a schedule that specifies the hours children can spend on social media. Besides, it helps them establish ways to balance the time they spend online with other aspects of their life, including sleep, physical activity and healthy eating. Furthermore, limiting the use during homework or study time and before bedtime is absolutely pivotal
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Parental Locks and Restrictions in Mobiles
Gifting a smartphone to your child might make them happy because it opens a world of possibilities to them as they play online games and connect with their peers and friends. But meanwhile, it is essential to set some boundaries by setting parental locks, which will disallow them from checking any untoward website or content.
Besides, when you set restrictions on mobile usage, you inadvertently let them know that they are under your watchful eye; hence they will think twice before indulging in anything dangerous.
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Keep Them Busy with Outdoor Activities, Interaction and Reading
When we adults don’t practice what we preach, how can we expect children to follow suit? Hence, we must take small steps to make the necessary changes; you can start by ensuring no phones during meals.
Additionally, take out time to communicate with your children; don’t force them to engage in a conversation. Instead, ask them nonchalantly how their day was or while taking them outside for shopping, you can initiate a discussion on their interests. You can also encourage them to take up any outdoor activities, including sports, dance, and other creative aspirations.
Although reading might not be the first choice for children, you can introduce them to graphic novels, comic books and novels; you never know, they can acquire an interest towards them.
Conclusion
Social media offers a ‘’catch- 22 situation’’ because its continuous unrestrained usage leads to over-dependence and addiction. And this is a vital issue that Chrysalis Kids have noted and warns parents about the dangers of social media. Moreover, they conduct student-friendly classes with utmost precision and care and engage with them to build a rapport which is also a crucial part of parenting.