Position paper EAPP (draft)

Should parents limit teenagers use of social media

The introduction of social media changed the way people communicated. People are always in need of
communication, and social media platforms provide a convenient platform for frequent and real-time
contact regardless of physical location. Just a few examples are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
WhatsApp, and Snapchat. These platforms are functionally unique from one another. Some, for
example, are mostly used for chatting, while others include video discussions and photo sharing.
Because of the ease with which these social media platforms facilitate information transmission, people
from all over the world may now contact with one another. Because of advances in technology, nearly
everyone now has access to social media. Children and teens may easily set up a Facebook or Twitter
account and use it to connect with other people. Because all that is required to utilize social media is
access to a computer or a smartphone, it has become nearly difficult to govern and monitor who uses it.
In this regard, parents are finding it increasingly difficult to limit their adolescents' access to social
media.

The majority of social media networks do not place age limitations on their users. As a result, kids have
taken advantage of this by creating accounts that provide them with unrestricted access to stuff that is
beyond their comprehension. Their chronological age. The majority of teenagers in the Philippines have
access to the Internet to smartphones, which allow them to access social media and the internet more
easily. Every day, children between the ages of 8 and 18 spend at least one hour on social media. As a
result, individuals are more vulnerable to the hazards linked with social networking. A significant
number have fallen victim to cases of cyberbullying by hackers and criminals found on social media.
Additionally, social media users often share pornographic content that finds its way to accounts held by
teenagers. In that respect, it is crucial for parents to regulate how teenagers use social media platforms.

Unconscious usage of social media can ruin a child's reputation in the future. Youths frequently post
much too much personal information about themselves on social media. They provide details about
their own life as well as the lives of their acquaintances. Others spread false information about them or
their close associates. Such activities endanger people's privacy. Social media has become a crucial
instrument for human contact, especially among teens and young people. However, its excessive or
unregulated usage can result in adverse effects such as addiction, cyberbullying, deterioration of social
interaction skills and loss of precious sleep time.

Teenagers nowadays live in a technologically controlled environment. When you glance about, you will
notice a large number of individuals scrolling through their phones, scarcely paying attention to their
surroundings, and I must admit that I am sometimes guilty of doing the same. Every day, new
technological developments and apps are released that modify societal function and capabilities. When it
comes to influencing young adults, social media platforms like Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
are at their pinnacle.
 Ongoing concerns, cyberbullying, threats, and hate crimes are being presented through these social media
sites, which is one of the many reasons why parents should limit their teens' usage of technology. I believe
that parents should limit their teenage child's or any child's usage of social media since it causes lack of
exercise, decreased social skills, and harm for threat and aggression. As we all know, social media is now a
part of a teenager's daily routine; nevertheless, excessive social media use can have negative
consequences such as melancholy, anxiety, and poor self-esteem difficulties. Although some say that
social media is useful for teenagers because it allows them to quickly interact with their friends and
others, the impacts of social media on minors are largely unfavorable. As a result, it is critical that parents
or other parental figures take action to avoid these negative impacts or reduce the risks of them
occurring.

A smart method for parents to get involved is for them to set a positive example in the house and
general environment. With these behaviors, the teen will be exposed to more non-online interactions,
resulting in communication growth and family bonding by genuinely engaging with each other. It is
critical for parental figures to take action and assist improve the future of their children and teenagers in
our society. By maintaining a good online environment, we may aim to reduce the harmful effects on
youth and their continual usage of social media. Without a doubt, the demands of parenting this
generation of teens are distinct, owing in large part to social media.

Social media has a profound impact on many young people, posing new issues for parents. It is critical
for parents to remember that research on the relationship between digital device usage and teenage
mental health is still in its infancy. One of the most significant implications from this analysis is that
additional research is needed to understand both the good and negative consequences of social media
use, as well as to investigate the potential for new technologies to enhance mental health and well-
being. We advise parents to consider how their children spend time on gadgets and what it means for
their social development, rather than the harsh assessment of screen time. Parents should assess if
internet activities enhance social support and facilitate social connectivity, as opposed to negative
interactions that focus on social comparisons and limit time spent in-person.