The Australian government recently proposed a ban on social media for children under 16 and is currently testing an age-verification system to implement the same.
Many countries around the world have been focusing on curbing social media use among children, mandating social media platforms to prevent access to them.
Let’s see the effects of excessive social media use on children.
Cyberbullying exposes children to harmful language and threats on social media platforms. It has a long-lasting impact on their mental and emotional well-being.
Social media platforms can attract online predators aiming to exploit or manipulate children. Children can fall prey to many risks of sharing personal information with people they don’t know in real life.
Social media trends often encourage children to engage in risky behaviour. Children tend to participate in these trends without fully understanding the potential dangers.
Social media is designed to be engaging and can be extremely addictive. Children can develop a dependency on constant online validation and become addicted to these platforms.
Excessive use of social media can result in behavioural changes and symptoms such as irritability, anxiety and depression. Children may struggle to focus on studies and experience sleep disturbances.
Children can struggle to differentiate fact from fiction on social media. They believe things easily and exposure to misinformation can shape unhealthy worldviews and beliefs.
Children often compare themselves to others and their social media lives. This constant comparison leads to low self-esteem and a negative sense of self.
Excessive time on social media can limit real-life interactions, which are crucial for developing social skills. Children struggle with developing social skills when they spend most of their time online.
Constant notifications and the urge to check messages can distract children from their studies and reduce concentration. This makes it hard to focus and can negatively impact their performance.
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