Is Social Media Stressing Your Kids?

It’s part of my job to search the Internet for subjects that have to do with Internet privacy.  In the past couple of months, I’ve seen a lot of questions on answer sites that have to do with kids and social media.  Most of these questions involve getting “Likes” on their social media pages.

Kids today are under enough pressure in their real lives when it comes to school and grades.  Now, it seems that these kids are adding pressure on themselves all because of social media.  Instead of worrying about having an active social life with real friends, these kids are stressing over the fact that their Facebook profile picture isn’t getting enough likes.  If they don’t have enough followers or “Likes” on Instagram and Twitter, it’s like the end of the world.

I have seen 13 year olds begging for likes because it’s “embarrassing” that their profile picture only got 10 “Likes” on Facebook.  Others are depressed that they only have 15 followers on Instagram.  Others yet are blogging on Tumblr about personal things and asking strangers to read their blogs and follow them. 

 

They are actually going on answer sites to beg for “Likes” and followers.  Not only that, it has become so important to them that they are actually going to sites to buy “Likes” and followers.  It’s scary to think that these kids are our future, yet they find nothing wrong with the practice of buying “Likes”.  When did it become acceptable to buy rewards instead of earning them?  I’d like to know how many parents are keeping track of their kids’ social media pages to see that they are actually cheating and if they approve of this cheating.  In other words:  What are we teaching our kids?

The cost isn’t a lot, but in order to pay the $1 to $3 charge, a credit card or PayPal account is needed.   This brings up a whole other issue:  privacy.  Do you know who your kids are giving your credit card number to in order to buy these “Likes” and followers?  What about the actual followers?  They need to be able to see everything posted in order to “Like” things on your children’s pages.  Strangers will know where your children live, what they look like, what schools they go to.  These strangers will see posts saying that the family will be away on vacation or pictures of your kids at the beach.  They will be able to see those slumber party videos posted to Facebook, which include other parents’ kids.  How will those other parents feel knowing that strangers are watching what should be private videos? 

 

Parents need to teach their kids that social media isn’t something to get stressed out about, or depressed over.  It wasn’t intended to stress over; it was intended as a way to express our thoughts and keep in touch with friends and family.  I doubt very much the intention was to make teenagers feel bad about themselves because only 3 people “Liked” their profile picture. 

 

The minimum age for social media is 13 years old.  Some kids are mature enough at 13 to realize that what happens on social media really isn’t what’s important.  For others, it’s a place that means everything.  Parents need to teach their kids that while it’s good to be creative on Tumblr and Instagram and share views on Facebook and Twitter, it should not be the defining factor in a teenager’s life.  Each parent knows their own child best to determine whether or not social media is right for that child. 

 

In order to keep your privacy safe, parents must teach their kids not to give out personal information over the Internet.  Another way to stay safe is to surf the Internet anonymously with a proxy server.  Please take advantage of our FREE trial offer and see how changing your IP Address and encrypting every connection will make you feel safer knowing that you can’t be found.