The modern technology without the doubt has equipped the young generation with the contemporary cell phones, tablets and pads and others devices connected to the internet. They use the modern devices and machines for having a fun. To chit chat, to deliver text messages, share videos, to make calls and so much fun loving activities for spending quality time, wasting of time and remotely sharing their views and thoughts with their friends.
However, when it comes to deal with the pressure of using social media apps, preteens and children are “ill-equipped” and on the other side parents are lacking with the interest to teach children’s about their emotional impact to the moment the transition period has just started to secondary school, children commissioner has said that.
Preteens face an avalanche of pressure
The young children under the age of 13 usually face a tremendous amount of pressure and anxiety over the online image via instant messaging apps that are developed for their age, a key study stated that.
A report has been published in “The Life in Like” on Thursday that has a viewpoint and has informed the companies that are running the largest social media platforms that they should not allow young preteens to visit their apps.
However, the report has been also urged parents to teach the children about digital literacy and online resilience lessons.
What “Life In Likes study has its key findings
The study has found that social media usage between the kids within the age of 9 and 10 have different compare the children between the age of 12 and 13, the children’s Commissioner Anne Long field said that.
The social messaging apps and other apps provide fun to kids under the age of 13 such as playing games at the age of they enter in their primary school education. However, they further got their interest in playing augmented reality games. Peer pressure is the phenomenon that turns or urges preteens to use the social media for social media interaction on regular basis and within this exercise; they trapped by the online predators such as cyber bullies, stalkers, sexual predators and also got their interest in the carnal content.
According to the reports, 97% of young children play video games in the United States. These video games may include the element of violence, sex; lose of language, element of substance abuse, and many other activities that can lead young preteens towards bad habits.
The social pressure on young children is the main point that forces them to connect with the digital world and the same is the case with the fellow friends on social media that are always expecting their online friends to stay available in the online world, the report further stated that.
Young children under the age of 13 have their view that if they start receiving a number of notifications, then it would be distracting, time-consuming, and very hectic thing stuff to manage. Most of the time leads spend a long time on social media apps such as Facebook, Yahoo, WhatsApp, and other platforms. Then it would be obvious that they will have health issues such as depression, anxiety, lack of social behavior, aggressive behavior, and poor performance academically.
Tips for parents to protect preteens to ensure online Resilience
According to the Life In Likes study, 32 children were examined within 8 different groups between the age of 8 to 12. A study has found that the most popular instant messaging apps are Snapchat, Instagram, WhatsApp, and others alike.
The study of children commissioner for England further stated that, the children in the age of 11-12 most likely to own smartphones. They use social media apps and then pass judgments on each other via likes, comments, text messages, share media files like photos and videos, audio and video calls, and Voice messages.
“It is very damaging for children such as for their self –identity, confidence and in terms of ability to develop them as an individual, a report said.
“Therefore, it is very important for parents, schools and even for the social media companies to help out pre-teens to prepare and well aware of what that means emotionally. “
The children having an age such as teens they want to be liked by their posts such as posts, photos, and videos. So, they always seem under deep pressure whether the stuff they have posted on social media or liked or not. They want themselves as the celebrity and they believe in attention-seeking behavior. This pushing forces children to go online because they feel they are missing something.
Preteens face difficulties to cope with emotionally
Child VS Computer
Discuss with your children what they usually like to explore or to use online and to whom they were talking on their windows and MAC computer devices. Discussion with full of love and care would be the ultimate solution cope with the difficulties and dangers they are facing in their digital lives.
Protect your children to the fullest
Have a talk
Make a comprehensive but to the point of conversation with your children about staying safe online especially when they are the age of fewer than 13.
Do activities online together
Discuss and ask your child what they really like to do online and what kind of activities they like to do online.
Your job is Keep your ears open
It is possible that young children don’t consider strangers as online strangers –they may think of them as their friends. Tell your child online people usually tell a lie.
Become friends with your children online
Add your children in your instant messenger’s account to see what they have done on their social media apps profile.
Make a pact
Set some ground rules when they are start using the social media websites and apps on their android and iOS cell phone and windows and MAC devices.
Child VS cell phone
Guide your children that they should not share their online privacy with anyone at all
View browsing history
You have to view what sort of content young children are visiting on the phones of Android and what sort of the activities they are obsessed with.
