It just so happens that almost everyone, everywhere, is on some form of social media. Children are now entering the social media world much earlier than they once did. I am 20 years old and started my first social media account when I was in 5th grade, where my little brother joined social media in 3rd grade. "Social media has the power to not only connect children in their community but also worldwide". Facebook was the first social media platform that I joined as a kid. Being on a social media platform introduced me to a new, creative side of me that I had never seen before.
Though for many parents, the concept of children on social media can be quite scary. There are many different negative things that children are at risk of being exposed to. "One of the most prominent dangers of children using is cyberbullying". I can remember my parents being hesitant to the idea of me being on social media, but let me go through with it anyways. I think that my parent's biggest fear was that I would be exposed to things that wasn't supposed to at my age. "Though I thought my parents primarily used social media to monitor my posts, I now believe that they used it to get advice and the ‘inside scoop’ on parenting tips". Being able to see other parents post about various things like toys, events, and trends seem to be very helpful for many parents.
Posting on social media is not merely just for the pleasure of ourselves, but it also brings immense joy to our relatives. Social media is something that proves to be difficult for the older generations to get the hang of. Many people say that Facebook is “the grandparent of social media," though the irony is that a lot of grandparents can't seem to grasp the concept. I am a witness to my own grandparent's struggle to navigate and use social media. It seems to take them triple the amount of time to understand social media than anyone else. Once my grandparents got the hang of it, I began to notice an overwhelming amount of likes and comments on my posts. Social media has allowed me to stay in contact with my grandparents when I’m not able to visit them. It has also provided a platform for my grandparents, extended family, and I to stay connected in an instance.
Photo by George Pagan III on Unsplash
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