Unsupervised Use of Social Media: A Recipe for Psychological Stress and Emotional Disturbances in Children
The Importance of Parental Guidance
The internet has undoubtedly brought numerous benefits, but for children, parental guidance is crucial to ensure they use their devices responsibly and only as needed.
The Impact of Unsupervised Social Media Use
While digital networking platforms are not inherently harmful, users’ inability to manage their time and activity on these platforms can often lead to psychological stress, emotional disturbances, and challenges in communication and social relationships.
Dr. Mariani Md Nor, a child psychologist from SEGi University, explains that interactions between children and their environment can influence their development and growth processes. Any information or knowledge from the environment can shape a child’s mind and personality.
“Influence comes not only from real life but also from cyberspace, including social media, which serves as a platform for children to gain knowledge and skills, and emulate the behaviours of their role models,”
she said.
Children’s Susceptibility to Influence
Dr. Mariani emphasized that children below the age of six are particularly susceptible to influence and can be easily shaped and nurtured because they are receptive to all types of information presented to them.
“If social media is constantly by the side of children in that age group, then their parents are to be blamed if platforms like YouTube and TikTok become like surrogates or teachers to their kids,”
she said.
The Risks of Unsupervised Social Media Use
Dr. Mariani warned that unsupervised social media use can lead to negative behaviors such as stress, mental health problems, running away from home, and even self-harm or suicide attempts. These behaviors are often influenced by the “narratives” presented on social media.
Parents’ Role in Monitoring Children’s Online Activity
Dr. Mariani emphasized that parents play a crucial role in monitoring their children’s online activity and controlling their use of social media to prevent addiction.
The Impact of Social Media on Language Skills
Maswanhizzly Masri, a language lecturer at Universiti Multimedia Malaysia, noted that social media significantly shapes how children communicate and the language they use. He warned that harsh language, insults, and toxic behaviors in social media interactions can influence the language children use daily.
“The use of slang and abbreviations, and following Gen-Z trends, is also a challenge. While abbreviated words might facilitate communication, they can also erode a person’s formal language skills and undermine the purity and originality of the language itself,”
he said.
Conclusion
Unsupervised use of social media can have significant negative consequences for children, including psychological stress, emotional disturbances, and challenges in communication and social relationships. Parents must take an active role in monitoring their children’s online activity and controlling their use of social media to prevent addiction.
FAQs
Q: Why is parental guidance important for children’s use of social media?
A: Parental guidance is important to ensure children use social media responsibly and only as needed, preventing negative consequences.
Q: What are the risks of unsupervised social media use for children?
A: Unsupervised social media use can lead to negative behaviors such as stress, mental health problems, running away from home, and even self-harm or suicide attempts.
Q: How can parents monitor their children’s online activity?
A: Parents can monitor their children’s online activity by setting boundaries, using parental control software, and having open and honest conversations with their children about social media use.
Q: What can parents do to prevent addiction to social media?
A: Parents can prevent addiction by setting limits on social media use, encouraging other activities, and modeling healthy social media behavior themselves.