Over the last decade and a half, the usage of social media has exploded. In 2005, just 5% of adults in the United States reported using a social media site; now, that figure is closer to 70%.
The increase in the number of people using Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and other social media platforms — as well as the amount of time spent on them — has piqued the interest and concern of policymakers, teachers, parents, and clinicians about the effects of social media on our lives and psychological well-being.
Teens gain from social media by increasing their social networks and keeping in touch with their classmates as well as distant relatives and family. It also serves as a creative outlet. According to the Common Sense Media survey, more than a quarter of adolescents believe that “social media is ‘very’ or very’ vital for them for creative expression.”
Many of us in today’s society rely on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, and Instagram to locate and interact with one another. While each has advantages, it is vital to remember that social media can never replace face-to-face human interaction. It takes face-to-face interaction with people to activate the hormones that reduce stress and help you feel happier, healthier, and more optimistic. Spending too much time on social media, despite the fact that it is intended to bring people closer together, can instead make you feel more lonely and isolated—as well as worsen mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
As with other possible internet hazards, issues might arise if your youngster does not adequately safeguard their personal information. The hazards you should be aware of are as follows:
- Bullying on the internet (bullying using digital technology)
- Violation of one’s privacy
- Your youngster seeing unpleasant photos and messages is a form of identity theft.
- Strangers present who may be there to ‘groom’ other members
Follow these recommendations with your family, friends, and community to enjoy social media safely.
1. There are privacy and security options for a reason:
learn about and use social network privacy and security settings. They are there to help you manage your online experience and govern who sees what you submit.
2. Once uploaded, never removed:
Safeguard your reputation on social media. What you put on the internet is permanent. Consider uploading photos that you would not want your parents or potential employers to view. According to a recent study, 70% of job recruiters rejected candidates based on information they discovered online.
3. Your internet reputation can be beneficial:
According to recent study, recruiters respond to a strong, good personal brand online. So demonstrate your intelligence, thoughtfulness, and environmental mastery.
4. Keep personal information private:
Use caution while disclosing personal information on social networking sites. The more information you share, the easier it may be for a hacker or someone else to steal your identity, access your data, or commit other crimes such as stalking.
5. Know and control your friends:
Social media may be utilised for a number of reasons. Creating a big pool of pals from many parts of your life is part of the pleasure. That is not to say that all friends are made equal. Use tools to keep track of the information you share with friends in different groups, or create numerous web pages. Create an open profile or a “fan” page that promotes wide involvement while limiting personal information if you’re seeking to build a public persona as a blogger or expert. Use your personal profile to keep your actual friends (those you know and trust) informed of your everyday activities.
6. Be open about your feelings:
If a friend publishes something about you that makes you uncomfortable or appears improper, let them know. Similarly, if a buddy approaches you because anything you’ve shared makes him or her uncomfortable, have an open mind. People’s tolerance for how much the world knows about them varies; respect those variances.
7. Know what to do if someone harasses or threatens you:
remove them from your friend list, block them, and report them to the site administrator.
8. Keep your security software up to date:
The greatest defence against viruses, malware, and other online risks is to utilise the most recent security software, web browser, and operating system.
9. Take control of your internet presence:
Set the privacy and security settings of websites to your degree of comfort for information sharing, if appropriate. It is OK to restrict how and with whom you disclose information.
10. Make your password a sentence:
A powerful pass is one that is at least 12 characters long. Concentrate on positive statements or phrases that you enjoy thinking about and that are easy to recall (for example, “I enjoy country music.”) You may even use spaces on several websites!
11.One-of-a-kind account, one-of-a-kind password:
Having distinct passwords for each account aids in thwarting hackers. At the very least, keep your business and personal accounts distinct, and ensure that your important accounts have the strongest passwords.
12. When in doubt, toss it:
Cybercriminals frequently attempt to steal your personal information through links in email, tweets, postings, and online advertising. Even if you know where something came from, if it seems suspect, delete it.
13. Only post about others:
if you want them to post about you. The Golden Rule also applies on the internet.