What Are The Negative Effects Of Social Media On Parents?

Social media has emerged as a fast-growing platform that is changing the face of communication and connections.

All social media networking platforms are being widely used for work as well as entertainment, and this virtual world has also attracted most children.

The kids, as well as the parents, are being influenced by the effects of social media. Social media might emerge to be a great platform to learn, interact, communicate, and have fun. But if excessively used might lead to anxiety and other health issues.

Parents need to keep a check on access to this digital world and must be aware of all the hidden functionalities, age limits, and privacy settings to keep their kids safe.

Many young kids and teenagers use social media. The use of any such platform may also have an impact on the relationships with parents as it is one of the most vulnerable things.

The majority of social media effects on parents are negative. Parenting styles also get affected if you overuse social media.

Negative Effects of Social Media On Parents

As stated above, the effects of using social media platforms are majorly negative. The use of such platforms has negative effects owing to some common causes:

1. Overuse of social media

We cannot generalize that using social media is bad, but parents might get addicted to using social media and might not take control of kid-related tasks.

For users of social media, virtual life, likes, followers, etc., become more important. They run after Instagram likes, Instagram followers, YouTube views, TikTok likes, and much more.

2. Less Family Time

Spending time as a family is one of the most valuable things. The effect of social media, to a large extent, leads to losing this valuable family time.

Scrolling through Reels on Instagram or liking posts on Facebook is not bad, but all that is done within a limit is good.

While you overspend time on social media, you actually miss out on fun moments with family and kids.

3. Comparing Parenting Styles and Kids

Generally, the follower base on your account is that of other parents. The Instagram likes are from people who are in the same social circles or probably even strangers who portray a cool life.

So, unconsciously you start comparing your life with theirs; you evaluate your child’s achievements on the basis of what their kids do, and it results in low self-esteem.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong if you learn positive parenting styles from other parents, but never compare your kids or your life with what is seen on social media.

4. Share every Personal Moment

Social media addiction may also lead to oversharing. As a parent, you might feel the need to share every personal moment on social media.

You might not rush to click a picture or shoot a video, but this habit might get annoying for your family.

How To Balance Your Social Media Usage?

Balancing social media usage might not be easy and needs efforts to work towards a balance. Here are a few tips to start off in a positive way:

Your child Should be your Priority

It is important to understand that your child is your Priority and not social media. If you see your child getting bored, willing to talk to you, needing your attention or wants your help, then the phone needs to go away.

Whenever you scroll through social media, think if you can do anything better at that time. Limit the screen time using built-in settings.

Limit Your Kid’s Screen Time

The screen time for the kids must also be limited. They must not be addicted to phones. You may set up parental control to limit screen time. You may block certain apps or set a timetable to use social media.

Effects of Using Social Media on Children

As per the latest research, teenagers are online most of the time. It is a challenging task for any parent to limit their usage, and it is also important to know the negative effects of overuse of this virtual world.

Social media may have some positive effects on kids as it may help to connect with people globally. It leads to developing a wider perspective on numerous issues, learning new things, developing networking skills, exchanging ideas, enhancing your knowledge, getting fluent in communication, and better self-expression.

But, at the same time, social media has numerous negative effects on kids. Young kids are easy to influence, and social media affects their behavior and thoughts.

Some common negative effects include:

• You cannot fully control the information being passed to the kids through social media. They might come across inappropriate content that may affect their behavior.
• Kids may face cyberbullying on social media platforms.
• The kids waste a lot of time and become less productive. It also adversely affects their health.
• Excessive gaming or use of social media portals can hinder productivity in educational activities.
• Excessive use of social media may affect interpersonal relationships.

Since social media comes with many adverse effects, every parent must be vigilant about their children’s safety.

They need to be aware of what the kids watch, the safety measures in the apps, talk to kids from time to time, educate them about cybercrimes, and let them know the repercussions.

Conclusion

Social media comes with both positive and negative impacts. It is a great medium to connect with people. But, the negatives must never be ignored. Every parent must limit screen time and make the kids understand the same.

Look at the negative consequences and try to stay away from them. Overuse of social media will result in clashes in relationships, so limit the use and stay happy.