Despite all the positive aspects of social media, there are still an abundance of risk factors, such as privacy endangerment, exploitation and online harassment. All these negatives make social platforms a dangerous place for children under 13 years old.
Dr Kristy also agrees that 13 would be the absolute minimum, however 'It's difficult to prescribe a precise age limit as kids need to have social and emotional skills to cope with the demands of social media. For some kids, this is 13 years and for other kids it may be 15 years.
Social media affects behavior negatively by depriving kids of important social cues they would usually learn through in-person communication. This can cause them to be more callous, anxious, and insecure. Social media affects social skills by replacing some of kids' direct contact with their peers.
Cyberbullying. Online predators. Sharing too much information. False marketing.
Although there are important benefits, social media can also provide platforms for bullying and exclusion, unrealistic expectations about body image and sources of popularity, normalization of risk-taking behaviors, and can be detrimental to mental health.
Social media harms
However, social media use can also negatively affect teens, distracting them, disrupting their sleep, and exposing them to bullying, rumor spreading, unrealistic views of other people's lives and peer pressure. The risks might be related to how much social media teens use.
The more time spent on social media can lead to cyberbullying, social anxiety, depression, and exposure to content that is not age appropriate.
Kids with cell phones are likely to spend too much time on them, keeping them from doing more productive things like exercising and reading. There is increasing evidence of addiction to electronic devices, which like any other kind of addiction is destructive.
Surveys show that ninety percent of teens ages 13-17 have used social media. Seventy five percent report having at least one active social media profile, and 51% report visiting a social media site at least daily. Two thirds of teens have their own mobile devices with internet capabilities.
Facebook and its social media peers require users to be at least 13 years old to use their sites. That age traces back to a 1990s law that prohibits the tracking and data collection of children. Experts called the age "arbitrary" and said even if it were raised, it wouldn't ensure kids' safety.
Statistics on Teen Social Media Addiction
24% of Teens Are Online 'Almost Constantly' 76% of Teens Engage in Social Media – 71% are on Facebook, 52% on Instagram, 41% on Snapchat, 33% use Twitter and 14% are on Tumbler. 77% of Parents Say Their Teens Are Distracted By Devices When They Are Together.
Research studies note the connection between use of social media and its undesirable outcomes that increase incidence of anxiety, stress, depression, body image concerns, and loneliness in teens and young adults (APA, 2022).
Medical, social and psychological issues are a few things that Media uses against us. So it is my assertion that media has a negative impact on people's lives because it causes a dissatisfaction with body image, creates addiction, and can destroy interpersonal relationships.
Growing research finds that the more time spent on social media, the more likely a person will experience mental health symptoms like anxiety, isolation, and hopelessness.
Social Media & Technology Abuse (Also referred to as Digital Abuse) is defined by the National Domestic Violence Hotline as the use of technologies such as texting and social networking to bully, harass, stalk or intimidate a partner. Often this behavior is a form of verbal and emotional abuse perpetrated online.
Social media can give attackers a platform to impersonate trusted people and brands or the information they need carry out additional attacks, including social engineering and phishing.
In certain Australian states, some schools will offer a "Year 13' programme to students who wish to complete the usual one-year Year 12 programme over two years, or who were not successful in a sufficient number of subjects to attain the relevant Year 12 qualification on their first attempt.