20 | HUNTSVILLE LIVING | DECEMBER 2024
How to help children safely navigate social media
Social media has its fair share of proponents and detractors . For proof of the former , one need look no further than numbers , as the advisory firm Kepios reported there were 5.22 billion social media users around the world at the start of October 2024 . That translates to roughly 64 percent of the global population , a percentage that might upset detractors who see social media as a largely divisive entity that research has found can have an adverse effect on the physical and mental health of its users .
Social media certainly has its ups and downs , which is perhaps why so many parents feel like governing childrenճ usage of platforms like Snapchat and Instagram is akin to walking a tightrope every day . Helping children safely navigate social media is no small task , but finding a way to do so can have a profound impact on youngstersՠhealth . The American Psychological Association offers the following recommendations to parents and caregivers concerned about the safety of youngsters using social media .
% Recognize social media features that can be especially harmful . The APA notes that children can learn new social skills and communication strategies on social media . Thatճ a notable benefit of social media usage , but there are some harmful components that can be particularly detrimental to childrenճ still-developing brains . The APA highlights like buttons and the use of artificial intelligence as particularly harmful features because they promote excessive scrolling . Adolescents may be especially vulnerable in this regard , as the APA notes that the brain undergoes dramatic developmental changes during adolescence , when areas of the brain associated with a desire for attention from peers become more and more sensitive . Social media can exploit that need , which
20 | HUNTSVILLE LIVING | DECEMBER 2024