X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Kids and social media. Good or bad?

3 min read
kids and social media

Read this article to find out just whether social media is a good or bad idea for your kid!

Kids and social media have long remained a contentious issue and for good reason too. On one hand, there are many benefits which kids can enjoy from engaging in social media. However, there are also numerous horror stories involving kids and social media which the mass media likes to glorify. Thus, it is no surprise that because of media influence, many parents are quick to condemn the combination of kids and social media as one that is undesirable.

RELATED: Bond with your child through Facebook

Kids and social media. Good or bad?

The world of social media can be a dangerous place, especially for a young child. Some of the biggest threats to children from social media include cyber bullying, invasion of privacy, online scams and paedophiles. An article from the Yahoo News website reveals some worrying statistics. A survey on Australian children showed that children are using social media at a younger age and although Facebook has an age restriction of 13-years old, many underage children are using Facebook. Furthermore, it was particularly worrying that 20% of ‘tweens’ have interacted with a complete stranger online.

While the dangers of kids and social media do seem quite alarming, there are also many benefits which social media has to offer. Social media is a great way for children to build up their social network and connect with their friends. In addition, due to the growing dominance of social media, children who do not join social media websites might feel left out since all their friends are on it and may feel emotionally or mentally distressed because of it.

So what is the verdict?

The answer to whether kids and social media is a good or bad idea is that it wholly depends on the kids themselves and how they use it. Social media is increasingly becoming integrated into the our way of life and it is safe to say that it is only a matter of time before your children jump on the social media bandwagon. Thus, the onus should fall on parents and teachers alike to educate children on the right way to use social media.

RELATED: Learn internet slang to protect your child

Here are 5 tips to help your kid use social media safely

1. The best way to get kids to use social media safely is to educate them on the dangers of it. Once they understand the perils of social media, they might be more inclined to use it safely.

2. Tell your child that they should always come to you if they find something disturbing on the internet.

3. Children can be pretty nasty sometimes and cyber-bullying cases are relatively common. If your child seems distressed, try to get them to confide in you their problems.

4. Tell your child that they should always consult you whenever someone asks for their personal information online.

5. Block unsavoury websites to prevent your child from chancing upon them by accident.

RELATED: Expert advice: What to do if your child is being cyberbullied?

Partner Stories
5 effective tips to help kids focus and concentrate
5 effective tips to help kids focus and concentrate
Girl dies after jumping out of window, in a 'tragic misadventure'
Girl dies after jumping out of window, in a 'tragic misadventure'
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Giving Your Child Their First Mobile Phone
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Giving Your Child Their First Mobile Phone
How to discover and develop your kids' hidden talents
How to discover and develop your kids' hidden talents

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Sean Foo

  • Home
  • /
  • Parenting Advice by BRAND'S® AlphaMynd
  • /
  • Kids and social media. Good or bad?
Share:
  • How to teach kids to use social media wisely

    How to teach kids to use social media wisely

  • How to be social media savvy parents

    How to be social media savvy parents

  • Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

    Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

  • Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

    Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

  • How to teach kids to use social media wisely

    How to teach kids to use social media wisely

  • How to be social media savvy parents

    How to be social media savvy parents

  • Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

    Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

  • Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

    Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.