HUNTSVILLE, Ala — Because of the pandemic, laptops and tablets are getting more use than ever. With more kids seeing increased screen time during the pandemic, parents are concerned about child safety on social media platforms.
We spoke with a counselor to see what things parents should keep an eye out for.
With more kids online during the pandemic, the risks are high. Parents are seeing a change. A survey by Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago says 63% of parents have noticed their kids spending more time on social media.
We spoke with one psychotherapist who says parents might have good reason to be concerned. We caught up with Monretta Vega of Huntsville Psychotherapy and Counseling Services. She says, “This can cause some negative impacts on their self-esteem, their confidence and just their ability to communicate in-person.”
Kids are making their way online at younger ages each year. Because of all the restrictions on other activities during the pandemic, social media has become even more of a hot spot for young people. Vega adds, “Now they do not have school to help them build this self esteem and confidence. So, we have to be mindful that a lot of times they might be comparing them to the ‘successors’ they see. These outside influences start to influence them and that can be in a negative way.”
Vega says, without vital face-to-face contact developing kids need in school, their social skills could begin to lack if the majority of their communication is now online. She explains, “Facebook, Tik Tok, Instagram, Snapchat… We want to be mindful that with all this social media, they’re still able to have that verbal, in-person communication.”
The Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago’s survey says 80% of parents have set rules around phone and social media use. Monretta Vega says boundaries are essential, especially at a young age. She adds, “I would definitely encourage parents to monitor social media… for a while.”
Some young people feel more comfortable posting about their feelings than talking with their parents. But, their posts could indicate that they are struggling with depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts. Vega tells our reporter, “Our younger people are using social media as an outlet and they can be expressing negative feelings and emotions because it’s a great way for them to simply say how they feel post it, then dismiss it.”
If you do allow your kids to have social media accounts, keep an eye on their posts. And if they’re younger, you might want to consider a time limit on social media sites and talking to your kids about cyberbullying, cyberstalking and other risks.
