Is your child on social media or constantly asking to sign up? Social media platforms are a gem but can also be destructive. As a parent, you need to establish the best age for first smartphone and social media. Social media content can affect your child positively or negatively. This depends on the exposure, a concept most, if not all, modern parents understand. That’s among the top reasons parental control apps’ popularity continues to skyrocket.
The apps help parents control their children’s social media activities and teaches them how to spy on a cellphone. The apps make it easier to reduce the risks and help children enjoy the social media experience. Let’s look at how social media content can affect a child’s behavior.
In This Article
Better communicators
Social media provides a platform for children to express themselves as they engage with others. Liking those posts commenting, among other reactions, is a way of expressing what they feel. Apart from improved communication skills, a child can learn other aspects such as being considerate and emphatic. For instance, when a friend shares a sad experience, a child doesn’t react by laughing instead of expressing care. Virtual empathy is transferred into real life, positively affecting a child’s behavior. Such aspects model your child to be relationship-oriented and a better communicator.
Improved confidence
Is your child introverted or shy? Social media can help boost their confidence. As they open up through social media, they’ll be more confident to talk to them in person. The more they interact, the more confidence they gain, helping them build a better social network. The best part is that they are exposed to an extensive pool, allowing them to learn about varying cultures and appreciate their diversity. They won’t feel as different, especially if your neighborhood doesn’t offer as much cultural diversity. Your child can develop a healthy relationship with just about anyone with confidence and cultural awareness.
Poor behaviors
Parents aren’t as comfortable letting their children explore online engagements for good reasons. Protecting children from content on social media is essential, especially as they could be exposed to explicit material that’ not relevant considering their age. With the best parental apps, you can shield your child from content that can corrupt their thinking.
Pornographic materials and violent content aren’t the only ones you should be concerned about. Look at the content that intimidates your child or makes them feel bad, like body shaming. Such content could push them away from people, especially as they don’t feel accepted. Social media content can lead to stress, depression, and anxiety. Your child could develop bad habits such as;
- Resistance
- Becoming aggressive/violent
- Keeping to themselves while they were outgoing before
Teenagers could engage in drugs and irresponsible sex behaviors. As you consider how to restrict content from children, weighing the effect is a practical approach. This will help you filter content, including trigger keywords, to protect them from content that can negatively affect the child.
Addition and obsession are also possible effects social media can have on children. The fear of missing out can see your child spending hours waiting for their friends to post something to react. Such obsession and addiction can distract them, affecting their productivity. While social media can help or negatively affect a child, as a parent, you have more power to control the situation than you might think. With parental control apps, you can shield your child from certain content. You can also limit their screen time, ensuring that they reap the benefits with minimal risks exposure.
