Kids on social media: 3 benefits, 3 risks

June 30 is Social Media Day (#SMDay). Launched in 2010 by Mashable, it’s an annual, global celebration of how social media has impacted how we connect and communicate. In honour of Social Media Day, we’re examining what’s great about it and areas of caution for kids.

What’s great about it?

There are a lot of benefits of social media for kids. Let’s focus on 3.

#1: It’s social

Kids can connect beyond their immediate physical worlds of family, school and hobbies. They can seek out communities based on shared interests, whether they are music, sports, culture or causes. And within those communities, they can establish real friendships with people living in different places with different perspectives and worldviews. Social media also provides a great forum to join and participate in support networks. For instance, LGBTQ+ youth and kids from different cultural backgrounds can connect with people that share their experiences, access resources and find opportunities to further engage with the communities they belong to online and offline.

#2: It promotes digital literacy

Kids today are known as Digital Natives. They were born and grew up with technology and don’t know any differently. Social media can teach vital communication and technical skills that are part of both life and career training. Interacting face-to-face in our physical world is part of social development, but interacting online is also a vital element of learning how to relate, set boundaries and participate responsibly in relationships and communities.

#3: It gives kids a voice

There are so many inspiring stories of how kids have used social media to spark their own passions for social issues, raise awareness and effect change. In 2018, in the wake of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the students took to social media to advocate for gun control, challenge politicians and set conspiracy theorists straight. NBC News quoted Jeremy Littam, Associate Professor of Journalism at LeHigh University, about their savvy and influence: "When (this generation) has something to say, they now know how to use these tools in sophisticated ways. That would not have been happening if they hadn’t spent the last 10 years preparing themselves through these tools." Whether it’s anti-cyberbullying, fundraisers or marches that call attention to social issues, kids are turning to social media to promote social responsibility, community service and global awareness. In fact, Common Sense Media, a leading source of entertainment and technology recommendations for families and schools, lists 21 websites catering to kids aged eight to 16 that help them do good.

What are the risks?

Benefits also come with risks. While there are a lot of great things about social media, there are some risks too. Let’s focus on three.

#1: Incessant marketing

Many companies spend a lot of time and money figuring out how to best market to the coveted youth demographic. And social media is fertile ground for advertisers and marketers. There are regular ads, which are easy to spot. But sponsored and influencer content is more covert. The bottom line? Kids are being marketed to almost constantly on social media and advertisements like this have the ability to impact a child’s values, beliefs, self confidence and more.

#2: Cyberbullying

With so much socializing taking place on social media, there is a lot going on “behind the screen” that parents can’t see. And if kids aren’t sharing their experiences, parents often never know the frequency or severity of online bullying until the damage is done. Common forms of cyberbullying include verbal/emotional abuse, social exclusion, gossip and publicizing content that was meant to be private. Emotional consequences can include isolation, anxiety, depression and in extreme cases, even the tragic loss of life. There can also be legal consequences as we explored in our recent blog, “Cyberbullying can be criminal.”

#3: Unrealistic expectations and mental health

There is most certainly a filtered reality on social media. Influencers and celebrities have full teams behind them to help capture and post the perfect selfie (this great video from Dove’s Self-Esteem project casts a critical eye on what really goes into that casual selfie you may see online). The unrealistic beauty standards flooding social can be damaging to kids who are just forming their own identities and relationships with their bodies. According to the 2016 Dove Global Beauty and Confidence Report, 6 in 10 (65%) girls believe that media and advertising set an unrealistic standard of beauty most women can’t achieve. The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto also found that social media and smartphone use increase the burden of mental distress. The Hospital has seen admissions for mental health reasons increasing, and suicide has become the second most common cause of death for Canadian youth.

3 things you can do

If you’re encouraged by the benefits of social media but are concerned about the risks, there are things you can do with your kids to mitigate them.

#1: Start responsible social media use early

Modeling responsible behaviour on social can help your kids understand what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour. And if you start having these conversations early, you’ll help your kids form healthy habits that will follow them throughout their digital lives.

#2: Set boundaries

Create rules for social media together and decide on the appropriate consequences if they aren’t followed. By involving kids in the process, they understand your concerns and have contributed to their own boundaries online.

#3: Have honest conversations

Dove recently launched a campaign called #NoLikesNeeded to teach kids that the only “like” that counts is their own. Campaigns like this are great conversation starters about what we see online and how it makes us feel. Explain the importance of having a critical eye and healthy scepticism on social. View the unrealistic images together and talk about how they are created and why. And then find positive role models who are revered for their strength, intelligence or abilities rather than just looks.

Social media can be a productive, inspiring and empowering place for kids. With limits, digital literacy and ongoing conversations, it is easy to find the balance between the benefits and the risks.

For more tips on how to help your kids navigate our digital world, take the TELUS Wise parent workshop online. You can also encourage your child to complete the TELUS Wise happiness workshop. Or better yet, do it together! Visit telus.com/WiseWorkshops.