Just An App Away: Safety and Social Media Friendships

Advertisement

Teenagers around the world are some of the most avid and regular users of social media platforms.

Long gone are the days when the only social media sites that everyone talked about were Facebook and Instagram. Now, there are apps for virtually every kind of user forum imaginable, and it doesn’t take much tech savvy to find them, install them and be a part of these online communities, with all the attendant consequences.

With all these new possibilities, it is increasingly imperative for parents to ensure their children’s security online. Teens in China have a limited number of options when it comes to social media platforms and apps they can use, with 84.6% of minors in China using WeChat as their primary social media platform, an increase of 35% in just four years. This is according to the Bluebook of Teenagers published by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).

Although the current generation of kids were born into the age of social media, and thus may be very comfortable in the online world, their actions are not without peril, warns Glenn Lacon, guidance counselor at Dulwich College Beijing (DCB). “It is a fact that teenagers and kids are preoccupied [with] using social media and gadgets in this present age as their hobbies and leisure, which parents and significant people need to be aware of,” explains Lacon, adding, “In the year 2017, based on a study published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, more than one in eight Americans aged 12 to 25 experienced a major depressive episode. There are so many contributing factors that cause this mental health problem among the youths.’’

Advertisement

Where does this data leave these young social media users, especially when COVID-19 necessitated the use of social media to maintain friendships in the age of social distancing?

For Beijing-based teens, Chloe C. and Belle P., social media comprise two to five hours of activity on a daily basis. Both also admit to having joined these social media platforms as a result of some form of peer pressure or because others in their friend group were using them. And when asked if they would ever consider deleting their social media platforms permanently, Chloe admitted “I would feel really upset and annoyed about that. I have been relying on social media so much that I don’t think I can even live normally without it. They don’t only provide entertainment but also other functions that are essential for my living. For example, WeChat Pay is already part of my life.” Moving away from the inherent usefulness of some of the social media apps, reliance on these platforms for not only entertainment but for interpersonal relationships could be of great concern to most parents.

Granted, in a post-COVID-19 Beijing, social media platforms have been a great coping mechanism for kids and teens the world over, when unable to attend school as normal and thus, cut off from their social groups. Says Lacon, “One way to cope with anxiety and stress is through social media. We can use various social media platforms to chat and call our friends, loved ones, and family members. This has been a great support to connect with many people who felt emotional distress because they were away from their families or stuck in a particular place for months. Social media has been a good tool to express one’s feelings and make friends and rekindle relationships with others.”

There is still a looming spectre of danger lurking around every proverbial corner, however.

“One scenario that teenagers need to be consciously aware of these days is the fake accounts of people they make friends with.” Lacon cautions to be wary of possible blackmailers, who are “often asking for money, phone numbers, and pictures in return. These situations lead to serious problems that cause youths to feel depressed and carry anxieties with them. Being trapped in this case, their school performance, family relationship, and self-esteem are greatly affected,” warns Lacon.

So how can parents help?

“Adults need to set a good example for the younger generation. This starts at home and the foundation of values each parent has to establish in their kids. Parents have to be responsible for their actions and must be present in the lives of their children. Daily communication, knowing their friends and activities are essentials for guiding these growing kids,” Lacon suggests.

Even with that, some parents might worry about their children’s cybersecurity when they are away at school. And according to Lacon, schools too have a major role to play when it comes to safeguarding young social media users. “Schools have to design and implement activities and programs that can help the students understand the proper use of social media. This is a growing concern and must be prioritized. Administrators and the student support team need to work together to encourage healthy social media interaction and teach young kids its essential use,” further elaborates Lacon.

The age of social media and online friendships is here to stay. There will always be a new app the ‘kids’ will flock to, and children will always find new ways to outsmart their parents while trying to gain as much autonomy to use these apps. Despite this, it might be up to parents to find ways not only to curtail social media use but to enrich their children’s ‘real life’ experiences. Lacon puts it best when he says, “despite the advancement of technology and social media’s convenience, personal connection to people is still important. There is always a need for people to get along and experience the world. Everything will go back to its routine, social media and technology will still be there, and people will surely do the things they miss doing with their family and friends.”

---

Advertisement

Photos: Pexels

Hot Topics This Week