CONTEST - One Thing That Worries Me When My Child Is on Social Media - Share Your Thoughts and Win Exciting Prizes!

I am deeply concerned as a parent about how my child's use of social media could cause them to become seriously sidetracked and compromise their academic performance. The constant accessibility of social media platforms makes it simple for them to become distracted from crucial studying and schoolwork. Their ability to focus and be productive may be hampered by the allure of notifications, messages, and the desire to stay connected. I stress the value of creating a supportive environment for learning, establishing clear guidelines for social media use during allotted study time, and promoting efficient time management techniques. I work to make sure that my child's academic development continues to be a top priority by instilling discipline and encouraging a healthy balance between social media usage and academic responsibilities.

I am concerned after observing behaviour of my  teenage daughter and her friends on social media.

The current generation of kids  is addicted to social media, with a constant need for validation and appreciation from peers on networking sites. They give every update of their lives on social media - right from pics of food eaten, new outfits bought,  places visited . They even share personal details of relationship issues with parents or friends, break ups with boyfriends / girlfriends.

I  feel uncomfortable seing them make their entire life public.

This  unnecessary sharing of  information sometimes leads to mental health issues and FOMO ( fear of missing out) of things that their friends do and they are unable to do because of family or personal, financial constraints.

Likelihood of friendships with strangers is another fear I have.

The most vulnerable are the tiny preschoolers exposed to the perils of social media from birth.

• As a mother of a 14-year-old girl,I have to be careful that my daughter does not become addicted to the social media.There is also responsibilty that fall upon us as guardians that my child doesn't fall prey to cyber-bullying or she herself does not bully anyone in digital platform.Both are equally dangerous,harmful and punishable offence.The teen agers are vey vulnerable,they delve deep in the alluring world of social media but don't bother to maintain the limit.As a parent,its my responsibility to control time-span of her use of digital platform lest she loses control of her focus, and motivation to her studies.

The anonymity and distance of the Internet can make people more likely to do hurtful things, which can have long-lasting effects on my child's well-being. Cyberbullying, constant teasing, and attacks on their character can leave long-lasting psychological scars that can hurt their self-esteem, mental health, and happiness in general. It's important for me to stay aware, keep an eye on their online activities, and give them a safe, supportive space where they can talk about any problems they may be having. Key to reducing the risks and making sure they have a healthy digital experience is teaching them how to act responsibly online, have empathy, and be resilient.

As a parent, I'm concerned about the negative effects of social media on my child's ability to focus and manage his or her time effectively. Their time and focus can easily be sucked away by the allure of never-ending scrolling, notifications, and the never-ending need for virtual validation. I worry that their incessant social media use will impair their organizational skills, academic performance, and motivation to participate in real-world activities. Setting limits and promoting a moderate perspective on technology is extremely important to me. I want to help my kid become better at managing their time and staying focused and well-rounded outside of the digital realm by encouraging them to try new things, enforcing strict limits on their screen time, and having open discussions about the addictive nature of social media.

being exposed to inappropriate or upsetting content, like mean aggressive, violent or sexual comments or images

uploading inappropriate content, like embarrassing or provocative photos or videos of themselves or others

sharing personal information with strangers – for example, images, date of birth, location or address

The word Social media brings images of Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, YouTube, Snapchat ,Gmail and school email into my mind. Fortunately, for me my teenager son is not into the first four. Still, when I see him smiling and texting on his phone, the mummy in me and my imagination runs wild. I get worried that he is chatting with opposite gender or with the wrong friends. The kids now are more informed, curious and braver than our generation. The Western influence is now tempting the children to explore beyond the books.So sometimes, I worry and pray that his friends should not tempt him with wrong advice or send porn videos to kindle his curiosity. 

We can only advice our kids to be careful and not get into the wrong company and think healthy. 

One of my biggest worries as a mother is my child to constantly compare herself to others on social media, which result in feelings of inferiority. It also leads to unhealthy comparison traps. I am concerned about the potential harm this could do to my child's wellbeing in general. It is crucial for me to instill in my child a strong sense of self-worth and resilience while stressing that their value is not based on outside approval or social media metrics. In order to help them navigate social media in a healthy and confident way, it is essential to promote open discussions about self-acceptance, individuality, and the unrealistic nature of online portrayals.

Social media platforms are designed to connect people and facilitate communication. Still, they can also expose young users to a variety of risks. For example, your child may encounter cyberbullying, hate speech, sexual content, or violent images, which can harm their mental health and well-being.

Moreover, online predators may use social media to groom children and exploit their vulnerabilities. They may disguise themselves as peers, offer gifts, or use other manipulative tactics to gain the trust of their victims. Therefore, it's essential to talk to your child about the risks of social media and educate them on how to stay safe online. It's critical to have an open and honest dialogue with your child about their social media use and to encourage them to come to you if they encounter anything that makes them uncomfortable or raises red flags.

The biggest worry for me is the lack of imagination and inability to think regarding any topic. As we turn to Google for help us for every thing, children don't want to make the effort of thinking much. Also they know that ready help is available in the form of Google and other search engines. Unraveling something new has given its place to googling everything. The excitement of trying to remember something hard has vanished from our children's lives.

• One thing that I worry is that it is hampering their capabilities to create, think out of the box and be able to find a way themselves. Excessive use of social media though opening the world to them is making them understand things on their own and as a result they are not being able to know themselves and their capabilities. All they do is look for answers which might not be understood and stopping them from exploring and bringing out the best of themselves. Being on social media is making them less active mentally and physically.

One thing that worries me the most is that my child is missing the actual physical playing time. As a kid I remember, we used to spend whole day playing outside only entering home for food breaks. The social media is so much alluring these days that kids dont want to go out and play. They are becoming lazy and missing on physical vent out of energy that is accumulated. Also the kids have acquaintance with very less kids. Their social circle is becoming more and more narrow. 

I am Dr. Nandini Sharma mom of a three years old and principal by profession. Social media has become integral part of the life. As a mother I am really concerned about the future as this virtual life has become more important than real life. My only worry is that my kid give more time to social media and virtual life than his parents and real life. 

thank you so much

Dr. Nandini Sharma

Instagram handle is @abhinn_mumma