Impacts Of Social Media On Children: Social media has become an essential part of daily life for many children, with the number of users growing rapidly every year. It includes platforms and applications where people share ideas, information, and connect socially, such as Facebook, YouTube, and online games. Children engage in social media both individually, like reading a post and playing online with others. While social media helps children build connections and interact with peers, most sites like Facebook and Snapchat require users to be at least thirteen years old, as per the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. These age restrictions aim to safeguard children from online risks, but many underage users still access these platforms. As a result, many young users engage online without fully understanding the potential consequences, and research on children’s use of social media remains limited.

Impacts Of Social Media On Children

Recent studies have shown that about 60% of children spend more than three hours on social media. Social media has both positive and negative effects on children. It helps them connect with others, learn new things, and express creativity. However, too much use can lead to distractions, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content. It may also cause stress, anxiety, or low self-esteem. Hence, parents should guide and monitor children’s online activities to ensure safe and balanced use of social media. 

What is Social Media?

Social media refers to digital technological platforms that enable people to talk to each other, get involved, share information, and work together. 

What are Different Types of Social Media?

• Social Networking Platforms: They are used by people to exchange information, opinions, and ideas. They can also interact with friends and relatives.
• Media Transmission System: It is a medium of interaction using user-created videos. They help users to spread their work.
• Community Sites: Users post conversation starters that evolve into complex comment threads, often around specific topics.

How does Social Media Work?

• Composition: Social media is based on technology and internet connectivity. Users can access social networking sites using their PCs, smartphones, or other devices. 
  • Example: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, etc.
• Working: Most social networking sites contain searchable databases as back ends that use advanced programming languages, such as Python, to organize, store, and retrieve data in an easy-to-understand format. 

What are the positive impacts of Social Media?

• Sharing of Information: It is a platform for people to share their interests, ideas, opinions, insights, and feelings.
• Keeping Touch with far-away Friends: Individuals who live far away from their friends and family use social media to keep in touch. 
• Business Opportunities: Social media provides business opportunities to talk to customers, increase sales through advertising and promotion, keep an eye on consumer trends, etc.
• Gaining Knowledge: Many social media sites contain vital information. They act as a source of knowledge.
• Political Campaigning: Social media can be effectively leveraged to reach out to voters, especially those who are young.
• Spreading Ideas: Social media is a tool for people to spread their ideas and thoughts, allowing the world to be influenced by it.
• Attracting Attention: Social media is a platform for people to fight for their rights. It helps people to come together and fight.
• Governance Tool: Social media is a very good tool for effective governance, especially when it comes to sending messages to the masses. 

What are the negative impacts of Social Media?

• Depression: According to studies, people using social media are more likely to feel sad, anxious, lonely, want to hurt themselves, or even think about suicide.
• Political Propaganda: Social media can be used to push political propaganda, which is mainly done to gain political mileage.
• Peddling Fake News: Social media’s reach has enabled miscreants to deliberately spread fake news and create unstable situations in society.
• Illegal Activities Hub: Social media has become a hub for illegal activities such as child pornography, terrorism, narcotics trade, etc.
• Distraction: Social media acts as a distraction for youngsters from their academic activity. This affects their future career.
• Privacy Concerns: Social media can be misused to steal personal information, leading to a breach of individual privacy. 
• Fraud: People are falling victim to financial frauds that are fast gaining a foothold through social media.

How are Children exposed to social media? 

• Peer Pressure: Among teenage children, access to social media is mainly due to peer pressure. Children feel they have to frequent social media sites to fit into the modern world.
• Parental Exposure: Some children are exposed to social media by their parents, who knowingly or unknowingly get them addicted.
• Entertainment: Social media has turned into a hub for entertainment. This acts as a medium attraction for young minds.
• Boredom: In modern society, physical activities have taken a back seat and children are forced to access social media to get over their boredom.
• Easy Access to Digital Devices: Easy access to digital devices has made it easy for children to open a social media account and also use it frequently.

What are the Negative impacts of Social Media on Children?

• Violence: Social media, with its unfiltered content, can create violent tendencies among children. Its effect can be felt in their future behavior.
• Cyber Bullying: Young children, especially girls, are easily the victims of cyberbullying. Social media is the most probable source of such bullying.
• Pornography: Social media and pornography have close links. The young minds of children can get easily addicted to pornographic material, affecting their academic life.
• Illegal Betting: Social media sites host many illegal betting pages. Children can potentially get addicted to such financially dangerous activities.
• Mental Instability: Children start living in a virtual world looking at social media content. This affects their future mental peace and stability.
• Socialization: Social media is not a substitute for physical socialization. Excessive social media use can affect a child’s social life.
• False Information: Social media is a hub for false information. Children can be brainwashed easily through propaganda.
• Sleep Pattern Affected: The sleep pattern of children is affected due to excessive use of social media.

What are the positive impacts of Social Media on Children?

• Critical Thinking: Social media can help children to think critically and build critical skills for the future.
• Communicate: Social media helps children to communicate with people of similar interests, helping build knowledge.
• Maintain Relation: Social media helps maintain relationships with friends and relatives who live far away.
• Develop the Art of Learning: Social media helps individuals to develop and master the art of learning new things in life.

How to Reduce Social Media Effects on Children?

• Parental Control: Parents must keep a watch over their children’s social media activity. Parents must win the confidence of their children and guide them.
• Digital Education: It is the responsibility of the parents, teachers as well as authorities to inculcate digital education among children, in order for them to use social media in a beneficial way.
• Regulation of Social Media: Social media companies must self-regulate their activities or the government must make them do it.
• Counseling: Professional counselors can help children overcome the habit and addiction associated with social media.

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How Social Media is regulated in India?

• Guidelines for Social Media/Intermediaries under IT Rules 2021
  • Grievance Redressal Mechanism: A three-level grievance redressal mechanism has been established to handle concerns of the user.
  • Information on Origin: Social media platforms have to disclose the first originator of a mischievous tweet or message if asked by a relevant court.
  • Chief Compliance Officer: All social media intermediaries have to appoint a chief compliance officer to handle compliance. The chief compliance officer shall be a resident of India.
  • Voluntary Verification: Users of significant social media intermediaries must be given a facility to voluntarily verify themselves. 

What is China’s new Regulation on Social Media for Children?

• Control Screen Time: China has been making efforts to regulate the amount of time children spend on digital devices to access social media as well as play games.
• Time Limit: The guidelines given by Chinese authorities state that  minors would not be allowed to use most internet services on mobile devices from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • Children between the ages of 16 and 18 can use the internet for only two hours a day, while those between 8 and 15 years will be allowed to use the internet for only an hour.
• Youth Mode: To protect minors, authorities are urging platforms to set up youth mode, which has age-appropriate content.

Do you think India should also have such regulations for children?

Arguments in Favor:

• Child Protection: Regulations can help protect children from inappropriate content, online harassment, and potential exploitation. Guidelines can ensure that platforms take measures to create a safer online environment for young users.
• Digital Literacy and Responsibility: Regulations could encourage platforms to promote digital literacy and responsible online behavior among children. This includes educating them about the risks associated with social media and providing tools for safer usage.
• Parental Control: Regulations might facilitate the implementation of features that allow parents to have more control over their children’s online activities, including setting age-appropriate content filters and monitoring usage.

Arguments Against:

• Freedom of Expression: Stringent regulations might be perceived as impinging on freedom of expression. Striking a balance between protecting children and ensuring a free and open digital space is crucial.
• Innovation and Development: Overly restrictive regulations could stifle innovation in the tech sector. Balancing child protection with an environment that fosters innovation is essential for the growth of the digital industry.
• Parental Responsibility: Critics argue that the primary responsibility for monitoring and guiding children’s online activities lies with parents. They assert that regulations should not replace parental involvement but rather support it.

What are the reasons for the increasing use of social media among children? 

• The increasing use of social media among children can be attributed to various factors, reflecting the evolving nature of technology, social dynamics, and communication. Here are some reasons:
• Peer Influence: Children often use social media to connect with peers. The desire to fit in and be part of social circles motivates them to join popular platforms where their friends are already active.
• Entertainment and Content Consumption: Social media platforms offer a wide range of content, including videos, games, and interactive features. Children are drawn to the entertaining and engaging content available on these platforms.
• Educational Opportunities: Some social media platforms offer educational content and opportunities for learning. Children may use these platforms to access educational resources, connect with experts, and participate in online learning communities.
• Influence of Digital Culture: Growing up in a digital age, children are immersed in digital culture. The prevalence of smartphones, tablets, and other connected devices makes it easier for them to access social media, contributing to its increased use.
• Parental Influence and Permission: In many cases, children gain access to social media with the permission or encouragement of their parents. Parental influence plays a significant role in shaping a child’s online behavior.

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