Abstract
Children of all ages are present on social media, even children aged 7 or younger! Social media can lead to fame and riches or cyber bullying and hate. No kids experience will be the same and can depend on many factors. Many parents allow their kids to use social media for purposes they find to be beneficial and educational, such as watching YouTube videos or playing interactive games. Some parents leave their kids with devices and let them have free reign of the internet and social media. Without education of what they are accessing, kids could get into trouble online, and even put in danger. These are topics I will be discussing. Parents should be involved in this topic because it ultimately is their responsibility to care for their children and make sure they are safe and happy.
Keywords: social media, autoethnography, ethnography, teens, children, identity
Social Media’s Effect on Our Lives Throughout Childhood to Adulthood
Autoethnography arose from the field of ethnography for the writer to be able to tell more of their personal experiences in relation to their research. This approach offers an alternative way to research, by treating research as a political and socially conscious act through ideologies of autobiography and ethnography (Ellis et. al, 2011).
You may have been scrolling through your social media and seen a young child doing something inappropriate or listening to vulgar music, etc. When I see something like this, I think to myself that it is clear kids doing this are not being supervised by adults. Although most social media apps require their users to be a minimum age of 13, Cleveland Clinic (2021) found that “In a recent poll, parents shared that 50% of children 10 to 12 years old and 33% of children 7 to 9 years old use social media apps” (para. 4). It is evident that there are young children using social media apps, so what is the possible harm or benefits? It is often said that kids and teens spend too much time on their devices. We have all seen the little kids in public who are following behind their parents while staring at their screens. Many times, the parent will also be more engaged in their cell phone than their current activity. This inevitably sets an example for their kids. In today’s world, social media plays a major role in shaping our identities. From kids to adults, social media is included throughout most American’s days. As kids may use social media primarily for socializing and keeping connected with friends, it can also be used for networking professionally for others. Sites such as LinkedIn have allowed working people to find jobs, select candidates to interview and more. It is often said that your digital footprint- or the information that exists on the internet due to your online use- can significantly affect your life. Parents and teachers warn kids to be cautious and keep all their profiles private and not to post anything they don’t want everyone to see. This extends into adulthood where employers can view your social media accounts from the present- but also from when you were a kid or when you first began using social media! Having criminal activity or illegal things on your social media, even as a minor, can lead you to not be accepted into colleges, or to be denied certain jobs. This could hinder the opportunities for higher paying jobs if your online presence goes against their values and views as a company. Furthermore, knowing the ins and outs of social media can allow for professional opportunities as the need for jobs regarding technology are increasing. Many companies have an active presence on most social media as a marketing tool. Additionally, companies use independent influencers to help market their products to their own audiences. These influencers tend to be younger and some- such as Charli D’Amelio- become popular influencers from simply posting on their social media for fun and for their friends to view. You could essentially create a career for yourself through social media, even as a kid, as many have done in this decade.
Introduction
In discussions of social media use during childhood, one controversial issue is whether kids should be allowed on social media, or what they should be restricted to. On the one hand, social media use can lead to cyberbullying, depression, and even suicide. Others contend that these are the exceptions, they are rare cases and there were likely underlying issues that contributed, apart from social media. My view is that this is related to mental illness and suicidal thoughts are likely from deeper problems, or other things piled on top of problems on social media, but not the sole cause. Things such as bullying have been going on before the internet, there is just another form of communication available now. I don’t believe social media creates much more of a bullying problem outside of the bullying that already has been happening to kids prior to social media. Boyd (2015) explains how it is currently unknown whether cyberbullying is contributing to more bullying than in the past, or whether it is just another platform for bullies to use (p.132). As social media becomes even more widespread among young people, there will likely be clearer answers. In her ethnographic studies, danah boyd (2015) found the following:
When people choose to share or spread content about others, they can use social media to easily transmit the message to a wide and connected audience. A rumor shared on Facebook has the potential to spread farther and faster and persist longer than any school rumor could have in the past… Someone seeking to spread a message can easily leverage the affordances of networked publics to do so. (p.145)
While it may not be true that social media creates more issues with bullying, it is proven and evident that information and gossip can spread faster than ever before, throughout different schools and different areas too. This could make the victim(s) feel more humiliated and last much longer than previously. Conflicts in person with young people tend to be quick, people may talk about it for a couple of days but then people forget and are talking about the next thing. With these conflicts being posted on social media, it is more likely for it to be around more long term, and even publicly. Even if a post is only up for a short time, someone could screenshot it and in turn use that post however they please. People can also make up false rumors about others which may be more believable online. However, in my experience I didn’t observe cyber bullying being more of an issue than typical bullying.
Consequences of Growing up in an Increasingly Digital World
In discussions of how social media shapes teen’s identity, one controversial issue has been focused on what are the consequences of publicly posting online? On one hand, many parents argue that kids don’t care about maintaining their privacy, and that they put everything in their lives on display. On the other hand, some suppose that kid’s identity is more reliant on their peers than of their own accord. Guillermo Cánovas (2014) has ran the Safer Internet Centre for the protection of children in Spain for 10 years, and he states, “Teenagers’ identity is developed and defined in relation to other people. Constant comparisons and finding similarities and differences with others play an essential role… They may not consider themselves witty or serious without comparison” (para. 2). In her book It’s Complicated, danah boyd maintains that “Because teens’ engagement with social media is tied to their broader peer groups, the norms that get reinforced online do not deviate much from the norms that exist in school” (p. 40). Social media extends the access kids have to their friends, and to information at large. This doesn’t mean that social media itself brings about entirely new dynamics with kids and their friends, especially in schools. My own view is that whether kids’ identities are shaped by groups and others, this is a recurring theme that has been noticed long before kids had access to social media. Teenagers can use social media to develop their identity more boldly, given they are able to do it behind a screen and don’t have to face hate for this expression directly in person. It gives kids an outlet to express themselves when they are feeling everything strongly. It simply gives kids access to more constant communication than ever before, when previously, many kids would only see and talk to their friends at school.
Morning-Consult-Report-Social-Media.png (2003×1467) (internetinnovation.org)
Figure 1 Data about parent’s perceptions around social media, by Internet Innovation Alliance: August 29, 2018
Anonymity on Social Media
Through our extensive social media use, we can create virtually any persona we choose. You can choose a pseudonym, different usernames, various avatars, and more. Although many find social media to be complimentary to developing their identity, due to meeting like individuals through subcultures and interests, but on the contrary, with this freedom, it is possible to lose your true sense of self. Many feel they can truly express themselves under the guise of anonymity. Some choose to stay anonymous or use pseudonyms for their safety, and to remain separate from people they may know in real life. In addition to relatively harmless social media use as mentioned, some use this anonymity for much more nefarious acts. This can lead to scamming and taking advantage of people who may not be tech-savvy. This includes elders, kids with their parent’s credit cards or simply people who are not familiar with certain practices on the internet. People will pose as other people, even different genders, and races to get into online relationships with people to get money from them. Although many Americans don’t believe it is possible to be completely anonymous online, studies from Pew Research Center (2013) have shown that 37% of people believe it is viable. One of my dad’s older friends has experienced this while he thought he was having a relationship with a woman online from Nigeria. He had given her money many times, he even bought her a used car to use here since she’d made promises to move to the US when possible. Although his kids and others warned him this may not be a real woman, he kept the relationship going until he ultimately found that it was in fact not a person who was going to come to the US for him. This can obviously be very damaging to a person’s mental health, especially as an older person who lives alone and wants companionship.
The Gratification we Receive Through Social Media
Most social media users choose to publicize the greatest aspects and events in their lives, but it is hard to remember that as a viewer. This creates a pressure for you to also post a majority positive things to fit in with your peers and to receive likes and comments. Keeping up this false persona for our social media can be draining and depressing. If you are using social media to keep up a perfect or unrealistic image for others, rather than sharing your true feelings and posting what you want to post, using these apps isn’t going to be enjoyable or productive. The Center for Talent Development at Northwestern (2016) found the following: With comments and ‘likes’ quantifying influence and success on social media, aspiring to gain affirmation is built into the platforms. As sites like Facebook and LinkedIn become increasingly integrated in our social and professional lives, differences between our “real” and online identities can shape not only how others perceive us but our self-perceptions, creating pressure to be more like the often-idealized digital versions of ourselves and our peers. (para. 1) It is important to separate your real life from your online persona if you do choose to use a pseudonym, alternate personality etc.
In conclusion, children in the US today are likely affected by social media in one way or another. Depending on many factors in a child’s life, such as their family’s economic status, environmental effects, and more can all effect this experience. It is up to parents to determine whether they want to allow their kids on social media or not. However, parents should educate their children on the negatives of social media so they can be aware of what to watch out for. They should know that things they post may be viewed by many people, even people they did not intend to share with. With supervision and limited time on it, social media can be beneficial and even educational for kids.
References
Effects of Social Media on Children. (2021, December 3). Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/dangers-of-social-media-for-youth/
Ellis, C., Adams, T. E., & Bochner, A. P. (2010). Autoethnography: An Overview. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.17169/fqs-12.1.1589
kidsandteensonline. (2014, January 14). Social Media’s role in the developments of teenagers’ identity (Part I). Kids and Teens Online; kids and teens online. https://kidsandteensonline.com/2014/01/14/social-medias-role-in-the-developments-of-teenagers-identity-part-i/
boyd, danah. (2015). It’s complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens. Yale University Press.
Northwestern Center for Talent Development. (2016, February 10). The Self in Selfie: Identity in the Age of Social Media | Northwestern Center for Talent Development. Www.ctd.northwestern.edu. https://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/blog/self-selfie-identity-age-social-media#:~:text=As%20sites%20like%20Facebook%20and%20LinkedIn%20become%20increasingly
Internet Innovation Alliance. (2018, August 29). Parent’s see social media as the most harmful type of media in children’s lives [Chart]. Internetinnovation.Org. https://internetinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/Morning-Consult-Report-Social-Media.png
Pew Research Center. (2013, September 5). Anonymity, Privacy, and Security Online. Pew Research. Retrieved February 15, 2022, from https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2013/09/05/anonymity-privacy-and-security-online/
