SOCIAL welfare
ARE YOU SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR YOUR CHILDREN?
As a parent, you may be concerned about how social media is affecting your child. There are some worrying studies that have shown that teens who spend a lot of time looking at Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook or Twitter have an increased risk of developing anxiety or depression – partly because it leads to pressure to be perfect – and self-esteem issues. They may also be getting less sleep and as a result having problems concentrating on school work.
But have you ever thought about how your use of social media affects your parenting?
According to research carried out at California State University, kids are not the only ones in the family who can be impacted by spending too much time on social media. The study shows that parents who are engrossed in Facebook tend to be more distracted and engage less with their children.
Previous studies have shown that frequent eye contact, one-on-one time and undivided attention are needed to build a strong attachment between a parent and child. If they don’t get that because you’re too busy posting pictures of what you had for lunch and watching cute puppy videos, it can affect the bond you are able to develop with them.
Your overindulgence in social media is also setting a bad example for your child. They’re not going to be inclined to listen to you telling them off for being on the computer or device for too long if you yourself spend hours glued to a screen.
Then there is also the issue of “oversharenting” – the phrase coined to describe some parents’ habit of continually posting details (and photos) of their children’s lives. Kids growing up today are the first generation to have their lives shared on social media and depending on what you’ve put out for the world to see, they may not appreciate it when they are older.
Then there are those who respond to their exploits being constantly shared on social media by becoming attention seekers. In this age of reality TV and selfies, it can lead to some kids thinking their daily activities are only valid if they are worth sharing with dozens – or even hundreds – of others and receive lots of likes. This can result in craving fame.
Do you really want them to grow up having all their special moments – and even some that are not particularly remarkable – being captured on film and shared with the world?