Proposal (Zeek the Geek)

Should social media access be limited or prevented for young children.

O'Keffe, G. e. (2011). The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families.

Excessive computer use is keep able of affecting children's social growth. At the age of around seven years, the interaction of a child with family, school, friends, community and media all play a central role in the growth of interpersonal skills and social competence of the child. Computers are now part of that stage of development and alarms have been sounded that children who have too much access to computers create electronic friendships and might be mired in building interpersonal skills. To reduce the high risk of obesity, and other harmful effects of prolonged media exposure, the American Academy of Pediatrics has always advised parents to reduce the time spent children spend on video games, computers and other media to not more than one to two hours a day, and to encourage them to explore different activities like sports, cycling or imaginative play.

David D. Luxton, P. a. (2012). Social Media and Suicide: A Public Health Perspective.

Social media may also pose a threat to vulnerable people through the formation and influence of extreme online groups that promote and provide support for beliefs and behaviors normally unacceptable by most society for example anorexia, suicide, and intentional body harm. Users that support eating disorder or sites that support suicide can find support and acceptance that they have not found through other means. These online groups may provide support; they pose a risk to the public by encouraging weak individuals to harm themselves.

There is evidence that social media can influence suicide behavior. The Internet removes geographic barriers to communication between people, the creation of pro-suicide social media sites creates a new risk to vulnerable people who might not have been exposed to these imminent hazards.

The developing data regarding the influence of the Internet and social media on suicide behavior have states that these forms of technology may introduce different threats to the public including new opportunities for assistance and prevention. Since social media are generally created and organized by end users, the available chance for monitoring and prevention can be drawn-out to all users. To facilitate this user-driven approach to shadowing and prevention, all social media sites could embrace the simple using methods which allow users to raise the alarm in case of mischievous Web sites.

Dinleyici, M. e. (n.d.). Media Use by Children, and Parents’ Views on Children's Media Usage. Journal of medical research.

The author states that majority of parents are aware that 13 years is the least age for most social media sites, but they do not understand the reason. However, 13 years is the minimum age set out by legislations in various states and most online site are bound by this regulation. It is imperative that parents analyze the sites on which their child wants to participate in to be sure that the site is suitable for that child's age. In general, if a website stipulates a minimum age for use in its terms of service, it is useful that age should be respected. Lying about age has become common practice by various preadolescents and some parents. Parents must be thoughtful about the required age for social media interaction to be sure their children are not sending messages about lying about their age and that the online safety of their children is always the core message being accentuated

Shields, M. &. (2000). Children and Computer Technology: Analysis and Recommendations.

States, that participation of parents in monitoring their children’s media carefully can have a big number of health advantages for children. The aspect of parental monitoring is divided into (1) viewing together with the child, (2) controlling amount of time used on media, (3) checking the types of content, and (4) aggressively talking about the meanings and impact of media information with children which is also referred to active mediation. The author adds that, studies have revealed that co-viewing paired with active mediation, limiting the amount of media exposure, and controlling content are all influential shielding factors for children.

Active mediation can entail giving views on media content, educating children concerning the tenacities of a number of media for example adverts or giving guidance and clarifications. Parental monitoring of children’s media influences children’s sleeping habits, school routine, social and aggressive behaviors, and that these impacts are reconciled through the amount of time spent watching and contact with media violence. Parental monitoring of media has defensive impact on a wide variety of academic, social, and physical child habits.

Nikken, P. (2015). How and Why Parents Guide the Media Use of Young Children. Journal of Child and Family Studies.

Research findings on effects of social media on children remain divided and therefore, can be confusing to educators and parents. A number children’s media researchers have not found any evidence to support the belief that screen media is inherently dangerous. Per researched based on the learning initiative, it was found that when television shows and electronic resources have been carefully designed to incorporate what is identified about actual reading instruction, they act as positive and dominant tools used for teaching and learning. While critics have issued many warnings against television and computers and their adverse impact on children’s learning, the best logical conclusion that can be drawn from the existing scholarly writing is that, it is the educational aspect that counts and not the format in which it is portrayed. In a nutshell, there are some educationally valuable television shows, websites, and digital media, and there are others that are not valuable and educationally worthless

Hatch, K. (2011). Determining Effects of Technology on children.

The author argues that for us to say that technology should be taken out of children’s lives all together has seems like an unrealistic notion, due to the massive amount of technology that is present in the current time. Keeping kids away from it entirely would mean that they are shielded from the cell phone, the television, iPods and the computer. Preventing children from social media would require a tremendous change in lifestyle from adults, yet they too are already engrossed in technology. When it is narrowed down to this, it is not the fact that children have this technology that is the problem. Allowing children to access technologies in their lives assist them to get the benefits of its use, and in preventing them against the risks are the two key practices that must be followed in parental controls and balance. Parental control on how children use technology can reduced the social media risk to children. Parents who know the advantages of technology and want to equip their children for the technology-driven world should understand that there must be some responsibility shown to the child, and a kind of observation done while they are still young. This therefore, means that parents can play active roles in allowing the children to engage in technology use but also show them that life is more than living behind a screen, and being glued with a laptop or Mac.

Ellen, K. (2012). Teenagers and Social Media: How to connect and protect your children.

The author observes that; the communication is very important when dealing with young children who are involved in using social media. Learn how to communicate openly with your teen. By building an atmosphere of trust and understanding what your teen is experiencing in the social media world, it’s more likely that he or she will come to you if something disturbing happens while on the Internet. Families should have regular family meetings where they can discuss with their children about things going on social media such a bullying. Parents can start in advance by explaining to children what the knowhow they are using is, and what the threats that might come along with it. Children can use a computer with a parent’s permission if parents look what their children are doing, and explain to them what the risks and benefits of the Internet are. Having a toolbar that can filter what they have access to can also benefit on keeping children browsing safe on the website. For social networking, parents should respect the age limit and allow their child to be mature enough to access sites like Myspace or Facebook, and then carry out an assessment on how the child uses the site. One of the efficient ways to monitor young children on Facebook is for parents to be their friend on the site. For activities, such as video game parents can put a limit on how long the games can be played per day, and under what conditions. The overall effect on young children is both good and bad. According to research for instance, it has been found out that more Facebook activity is related to signs of various psychiatric disorders like narcissism, while the similar research shows that having more friends on Facebook envisages lower depression.

References

David D. Luxton, P. a. (2012). Social Media and Suicide: A Public Health Perspective. Dinleyici, M. e. (n.d.). Media Use by Children, and Parents’ Views on Children's Media Usage. Journal of medical research. Ellen, K. (2012). Teenagers and Social Media:How to connect and protect your children. Hatch, K. (2011). Determining Effects of Technology on children. Nikken, P. (2015). How and Why Parents Guide the Media Use of Young Children. Journal of Child and Family Studies. O'Keffe, G. e. (2011). The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families. Shields, M. &. (2000). Children and Computer Technology: Analysis and Recommendations.