Discover the pros and cons of social media for kids in this detailed guide. Learn how it impacts their well-being, safety, and development.
Parent’s are concerned for a reason with their children using social media. For decades children are using social media and mostly they’ve shown some sort of behaviors that are inappropriate. That’s why the question arises: why is social media bad for kids. On one hand where social media helps kids get in touch with their peers, it also results in impatient and distracted behavior in children that stops them from doing productive activities. However, not every kid gets affected by social media in the same way.
Last year, Vivek Murthy, who’s a US Surgeon said that social media is bad for kids. And recently in June 2024, he again suggested that social media should have a warning label similar to the ones we find on cigarette packets. Linda Mayes, MD, from the Yale Child Study Center, relates this social media addiction situation to the one when TV channels came out and parents were worried about what content they should hide from their children.
This article will talk about why is social media bad for kids. We’ll discuss expert opinions of different specialists talking about problems with social media, pros and cons of social media for kids in detail and how to deal with all of this in this modern world.
Below, we share with you five reasons on why is social media bad for kids. You will learn about social media effects on teens based on pure research and evidence.
How Social Media is Good for Kids | How Social Media is Bad for Kids |
| Positive Connections: Teens can make healthy relationships and connect with others who share common interests, leading to a sense of belonging. | Mental Health Risks: Extreme use of social media can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges, especially for vulnerable teens. |
| Self-expression: Social media allows teens to express themselves creatively and share their interests with a broader community. | Sleep Disruption: Late-night screen time, often related to social media use, can disturb sleep patterns, affecting emotional and physical health. |
| Support Systems: Teens and social media together creates an environment more supported through online communities, especially during tough times. | Exposure to Harmful Content: Teens can easily encounter harmful content, including cyberbullying, eating disorders, and self-harm, which may negatively influence their behavior. |
| Diverse Interactions: Teens can interact with a more diverse group of peers, enhancing their social skills and understanding of others. | Addiction and Overstimulation: More social media use can overstimulate the brain, creating addictive behaviors that are difficult to control. |
| Staying Connected: Social media allows kids to keep in touch with family and friends, fostering connections even across distances. | Cyberbullying: Social media platforms can expose children to bullying, which can lead to emotional distress and long-term psychological impacts. |
| Emotional Support: Kids can find online communities that offer support for challenges like anxiety, loneliness, and mental health struggles. | Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): Social media is bad for kids because it can create feelings of inadequacy and fear of missing out, worsening anxiety. |
| Creativity and Expression: Platforms like Instagram and TikTok provide creative outlets for children to express themselves through art, music, or ideas. | Isolation: Overuse of social media may lead to increased feelings of isolation, as it replaces real-world, face-to-face interactions. |
| Raising Awareness: Children can engage in important causes, participate in campaigns, and learn about social issues. | Negative Comparisons: There are problems with social media such as curating and idealizing images of life, which can lead to negative body image and low self-esteem in children. |
| Global Exposure: Social media gives kids the chance to learn about different cultures, traditions, and global events, broadening their horizons. | Depression and Anxiety: Excessive use of social media can contribute to or worsen symptoms of depression and anxiety, especially when prioritizing virtual over in-person connections. |
Check: What Are The Pros And Cons of TikTok For Kids?
Now you know that social media is bad for kids. Below we talk about experts’ guides on how to handle social media usage for your kids for a safer environment.
@mamaslittlelemon Should kids have phones at this age? I just dont see a need for one especially with him having an ipad where he can call/text like a regular phone. #parentsoftiktok #parents #parenting #whatwouldyoudo #kids #controversial #opinion #momsoftiktok #momtok #90s #momlife ♬ original sound – Mama’s Little Lemon 🍋
Rules say children under 13 shouldn’t use social media, but they still do. So, it’s important for parents to make clear rules. Dr. Yann Poncin from Yale Child Study Center suggests giving children phones without the internet. Older children can get the internet too but with limited access. If parents don’t know how to do that, The American Academy of Pediatrics has tools to help make these rules.
Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General, says that sleeping with smartphones link with health issues, including both physical and mental, increasing things like suicide risk among teens. Make a rule that there would be no smartphone or internet access at least one hour before bedtime. This might require strict measures. Dr. Poncin suggests open communication if your teen needs to use their phone for essential tasks, to keep the rules in tact.
Although it’s good to have a check on your kids as we talked above, Dr. Poncin advises against monitoring phone content, as privacy is essential for teenagers’ development. If they found out their parents are invading things that are embarrassing, this could lead to more off-road behavior in your children. Have open conversations about social media use and let them do it if they genuinely need it, as Dr, Linda Mayrs from Child Study Center suggests.
Your approach can either make the kid defensive or listen to you. Dr. Poncin recommends talking about phone usage with children with a focus on health and well-being. Tell children how screen time is bad and why you don’t allow them to do that, instead of exerting yourself on them. Talk about them openly and be more direct about observable issues, like late-night phone use but with a passive approach. This behavior lets children think that parents genuinely care about their health instead of being bossy around them.
Behave the way you want your kids to behave. Dr. Mayes says that parents must also set the same rule for smartphone usage they expect from their children, at least when their kids are around. This means their parents must also stop using technology at least one hour before bedtime. And in any case, they caught their kids using smartphones late at night. Instead of scolding them, have open conversation with them by allowing them to make mistakes. This will create an environment that will help children genuinely accept your suggestions.
Now you know why is social media bad for kids. Although social media gives children benefits like talking to their friends and expressing themselves to feel light, it comes with hidden demons. Studies reveal that excessive social media use in children increases mental health issues like suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety, bad physical health and disrupted sleep. We’ve discussed in detail the interaction of teens and social media and its outcomes. The bottomline is that parents must set boundaries with their children and let them use the internet and smartphone but with limited access. By doing this, you can make your child’s physical and mental health good enough to allow him to contribute his goodness towards society and the world.
When kids spend too much time on social media, they struggle to focus on schoolwork or healthy activities like sports. They come across inappropriate content or become addicted to checking their devices due to FOMO. This affects their daily life and relationships.
Social media can give kids anxiety and depression, as kids might compare themselves to others and feel insecure. It can also disturb their sleep and expose them to harmful content, like cyberbullying or risky challenges which not only affects them mentally but physically as well.
Social media has both good and bad sides for kids. It helps them connect with friends and express themselves, but it also gets them mental health issues, addiction, and exposure to harmful content. The impact varies from child to child. The bottomline is that parents must guide and monitor their kids’ social media use to help them stay safe.
Hi, I'm Aaqil Abdul Rehman, one of the key individuals behind the success of First Growth Agency. With a spirited blend of marketing savvy and a dash of technical genius, I've dedicated myself to catapulting brands into the spotlight where they belong.
- Aaqil
Unlock your brand's potential with tailored strategies that deliver results.
From SEO to social media, our expertise is your growth. Ready to elevate your online presence?
