The Dangers of Social Media

Modern technology has brought our world many benefits that have enhanced and broadened our world. The Internet is one example of technology that has changed our world and the way we communicate with others. Whether you are in China or a small town in Texas, the World Wide Web has made it possible for communication anytime and almost anywhere. This has made communication easier, faster and sometimes more dangerous. For example, children are now exposed to a world that the adults in their lives never experienced and often times do not understand. Social Medias like Facebook, Twitter and Instant Messaging until recently were only visited and understood by the younger generation. Social medias can be fun and entertaining but also dangerous. Social Medias violate people’s privacy, expose inappropriate content to children and can make people unsafe.

Social Medias violate people’s privacy by showing personal information to the public. Social theorists have long questioned the ability of mass media, as consumption and a commercial enterprise, to contribute to deliberative democratic processes (Rohlinger, 122). Through Social Medias, people can see personal information that is provided by an individual. Often times, children do not understand the dangers of listing their age, school or posting pictures of themselves in a school or team uniform. By doing this, they are becoming vulnerable to predators that search these web sites and can be dangerous. Also, Social Medias have become a way that bullies can target a vulnerable child and make their life miserable. Children that are bullied test to have more anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem (Cohl, 405). If children put their personal information on the World Wide Web, they are allowing the public access to their life. Bullies can become a scary character in their daily life making it hard for them socially. Unfortunately, what is a fun activity for most can become a nightmare for some. Social Medias can be unsafe when people share their personal information with the public, which can lead them to being unsafe and can cause them to be vulnerable to cyber bullying (Cohl, 405).

Social Medias expose inappropriate content to children by not having mature web sites blocked. The little facts on parental rule setting put all its focus on children’s television shows. Television is closest to the Internet and both have strange and questionable content but they both can be very educational and we mostly think that the pattern for rule setting is the same. There are three sets of characteristics that seem to relate to setting rules: child, family and parent characteristics (Wang, 1250). Unfortunately, parents are not always paying attention to what web sites their child is watching or do not understand the technology so it is hard to keep children safe from inappropriate content. Also, children might seek a link or happen on to one by accident with inappropriate content but watch it anyway exposing them to danger. Children also have access to Social Medias at school.

The school’s suspicion and subsequent case into reconfiguring the ways that the public views their attributes have been continuing with little opposition because of the cautionary findings (Hesketh, 503). Despite measures to prevent children from viewing inappropriate content on the Internet at school and libraries it still happens. Also, due to crowded schools and busy teachers most adults do not pay close enough attention to what web sites children are visiting at school. Social Medias are giving children total access to inappropriate content at school and home and adults are either not paying attention or are not able to monitor what web sites children are accessing (Hesketh, 502).

Social Medias can make people unsafe with information it is showing or telling the public. Today, technology is an important part of children’s lives. However, electronic media is still changing. Television, which took over the media through the mid-1900s, now has to compete with cell phone, iPods, video games, Instant Messaging and social networks (Gunn, 4). Children that use the Internet or any technology to communicate with friends can be put in dangerous situations because they could be talking to someone that they do not know. You have no way of knowing if the person on the other side of the key board is being completely honest about their age, beliefs or even sex. Also, children are exposed to pictures and conversations that might not be appropriate for their age exposing them to things they may not be ready to handle. In the year 2000, over half of American households owned a computer and over 50% of families with children had full Internet access making access to information easy (Wang, 1250).

Social Medias are becoming the most successful source for information. Most children use the Internet everyday, to talk to friends and to look up information. This information is not always accurate and can be dangerous. Often times, children can obtain information that can lead them into dangerous situations. For example, instructions for how to build a bomb, make a drug, and how to hide alcohol in candy can easily be accessed. All information shared on Social Networks is not necessarily healthy information. Access to Social Medias and the information provided on web sites can put children at risk by providing inaccurate or dangerous information to minors (Subrahmanyam, 119).

While computers and social medias have brought many benefits to the fingertips of mankind, it has also brought us problems that face children of today. Problems and dangers that the adults in their lives never had to face in childhood and often times do not understand. Social medias have given children a freedom to explore a world that may not be appropriate or too mature for their age. Also, information shared on Social Media sites might not always be correct and can give children access to dangerous information. Social Medias provide personal information to strangers that may expose them to predators and cyber bullying. Social Medias have introduced children of today to situations that can be dangerous, emotionally and socially damaging.

Works Cited

Coyl, Diana D. “Kids Really Are Different These Days .” Kids Really Are Different These Days 90 (Feb. 2009): 404-407. JSTOR. Web. 4 Nov. 2011.