The world we live in today is very corrupt with children doing anything that they want to do. Kids who grow up faster than other kids have nothing to look forward to when they become adults. Many adolescents get on these social sites and lie about their ages and older individuals who are already on social media take it as if the kids are the age that they posted on the sites and they try to contact the child through their direct messages (DMs). Children under the age of 18 are too young to put their personal information on social media. According to Psychology Today, social media is an entertainment technology and it does not make your child smarter or more prepared for real life or a future job.
The children of today’s generation tend to be a little more advanced than kids were just a generation ago. When I was younger, I couldn’t do certain things such as getting on the computer, having a phone, texting, etc. I didn’t get on social media until I was 16 and I shouldn’t have been allowed to get on there then. Social media tells everything that is going on in an individual’s life if that person tends to share that information frequently.
To have a social media account, one should be 18 years of age but some social media sites have no age requirement depending on that particular site. The internet is a fascinating invention with marvels and wonders for all mankind but it also has its dark side with things such as cyberbullying. In most cases adolescents are not prepared for this reality of the internet. Rebecca Sedwick, a 12-year-old who was bullied by another 12-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl, committed suicide because the girls were saying mean things about her online. Things such as this is why kids shouldn’t be allowed on social media until they are 18 years of age and mentally prepared to grasp the concept of what is occurring.
Parents today should monitor their child/children’s activities online. I am a firm believer that social media wasn’t designed for kids but the way the world has evolved in the last 20 years, kids as young as 6-years-old can operate certain social media sites better than the average 21-year-old. According to Kidsatmax.com, 77% of 14-15 year-olds are posting personal information on social media. Social media is a mind consumer and parents should regulate their child/children’s usage before they become obsessed with it.