7 Negative Effects of Social Media on Students and How to Tackle Them

Introduction

Social media has taken over the world because it connects people living in distant corners. Other than helping people keep in touch, social media has also become a constant source of entertainment for people of all age groups. The entertainment is provided through short-form content, such as short videos and funny pictures. Moreover, people can follow various celebrities and icons they like and keep up with fashion trends.

While social media has many positive aspects, it's important to consider its negative aspects. The unregulated use of social media, especially among kids, has been one of the growing concerns for parents. It puts kids at a lot of mental and physical health risks by increasing pressure and creating emotional imbalance.

7 Negative Aspects of Social Media and How You Can Tackle Them

There are a plethora of social media platforms that your child can access. Each of these social media platforms can have some or other negative impacts on your child's well-being. Here is a look at some common factors that may deplete your child's quality of life, learning, and how you can tackle them.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying, as the name suggests, is a type of virtual bullying that can lead to mental distress. It may be in the form of posting derogatory remarks on your child's photographs, humiliating them, or manipulating them online. To prevent this from happening, parents can keep a check on the child's digital footprint and enhance awareness related to the careful use of social media. Moreover, parents can also encourage kids not to make any secret accounts without their permission.

Distraction From Studies

Unregulated use of social media can cause distraction from studies. They might feel a perpetual need to check their social media account again and again to see what's happening. All of this can impact your child's studies. Parents can prevent this from happening by putting a regulation on their child's mobile phone usage. The child can be allowed to use digital devices only when they have to study for extra help.

Lack of Sleep

As per the Iranian Journal of Psychiatry published in 2021, continuous usage of social media is one of the biggest reasons for sleep disorders among kids. Unrestricted usage of social media may make your child habitual of scrolling through social media apps for a long time. All of this may lead to a lack of sleep and excessive exhaustion among kids. Parents can set a proper sleeping time for their child and ensure that it is strictly followed every day to prevent any of these from happening.

Negative Impact on Physical Health

Regular exercise is important for the physical and mental well-being of a child. However, because of social media, kids may avoid going outside and playing with friends every day. This may severely deplete the quality of their health and make them prone to problems like obesity. As per NLM, kids need to exercise for at least 60 to 90 minutes every day to avoid such problems.

Low Self-Esteem

As per the Indian Journal of Psychiatry published in 2023, social media can lead to self-image and body-image issues among kids. One of the biggest reasons why kids may suffer from low self-esteem is due to comparisons with other people's images on social media. Kids may feel an intrinsic pressure to imitate other people's lifestyles and fit in. The inability to do so may make them severely distressed. Parents can provide a lot of emotional support to their child through counseling and positive reinforcement.

Social Isolation

While making virtual friends can have a positive impact on a child's mind, it may lead to social isolation and a lack of friends in real life. Continuously using social media may make a child adopt a more sedentary lifestyle, and they may avoid meeting people in real life. This may severely impact their social behavior and reduce the quality and quantity of in-person interactions.

Lack of Privacy

Several hackers and scammers operate on social media who target kids to leak their personal and sensitive information. Such illegitimate activities can cause embarrassment and can lead to even blackmail in the worst scenarios. One of the best ways to prevent this is by restricting a child's social media usage and educating them about the potential risks of social media. Parents may also take their child to certain workshops to widen their knowledge about cybersecurity and hacking.

Conclusion

Childhood is a sensitive period where your child might need constant support to stay away from distractions and risks both from social media and real life. By developing a strong partnership, parents and kids can navigate these challenges successfully.