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Why Social Media Is Not Smart for Middle School Kids

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Re: Why Social Media Is Not Smart for Middle School Kids

#3
> A tween's underdeveloped frontal cortex can’t manage the distraction nor the temptations that come with social media use.

Can any of us? Personally, I have to resort to all sorts of tricks to keep myself from spending far too long browsing social media feeds. They're frighteningly good at what they do.

Re: Why Social Media Is Not Smart for Middle School Kids

#4
All of their reasons why social media is bad for middle schoolers are all highly relevant to many/(most?) adults I meet. Not sure if that says great things about middle schoolers or bad things about adults.

In my experience, parents like these that need to turn their child into an “other” and can’t see how their own behavior is very similar if not the same as the child 20-30years their junior, are just really bad parents. They’re very oblivious. Maybe that’s why they have to write these articles so they can try and signal to people that they aren’t as awful at parenting as they truly are.

Re: Why Social Media Is Not Smart for Middle School Kids

#6
Bullshit. I had unfiltered access to the internet as a kid and I absolutely used it and it contributed to my personal growth like nothing else. But my parents limited my PC access times and that only held me back. Do not delay your kid's internet access. Don't stalk your kids - give them room to play around and make mistakes. Don't follow their every step and install spy applications - you will forever destroy their trust. The internet is a place where you can meet incredibly interesting people and it is a place where you can get unlimited free education. As a parent, you would be stupid to hold your kid back! The only rule I had as a kid was: "Don't give anyone on the internet our names or address or any personal information like that."

But most of all: Do not expect or even force them to live the ascetic life you couldn't even dream of living.

Re: Why Social Media Is Not Smart for Middle School Kids

#7

Should the minimum age for social media be 18? The minimum is current 13, per COPPA.

Nah, it'd basically be impossible to enforce, and usage of it in moderation seems perfectly fine. I mean, how many people do you actually know who care about COPPA or the age restrictions associated with? Probably not very many; even in the olden forums of internet forums most kids just said they were in their 20s or 30s and skipped past any terms and conditions.

Re: Why Social Media Is Not Smart for Middle School Kids

#8
post #3

> A tween's underdeveloped frontal cortex can’t manage the distraction nor the temptations that come with social media use. Can any of us? Personally, I have to resort to all sorts of tricks to keep myself from spending far too long browsing social media feeds. They're frighteningly good at what they do.

Those of us who aren't so excited about socialising, I suppose.

Re: Why Social Media Is Not Smart for Middle School Kids

#9
post #5

While I think I agree with the title, I didn't find the content of this post to be particularly useful. Does anyone have effective strategies for getting the kid to not want to use social media as much?

We have taken the approach of not allowing our middle school children to have any social media accounts. iMessage and facetime have created enough teachable moments, hopefully by the time they do get social accounts we will have covered the basic dos and don'ts

We also make them charge their phones in a room away from them at 8pm each night. Not a lot of good things can happen on facetime late at night for a middle schooler.

Re: Why Social Media Is Not Smart for Middle School Kids

#10
post #5

While I think I agree with the title, I didn't find the content of this post to be particularly useful. Does anyone have effective strategies for getting the kid to not want to use social media as much?

No, because social media is purpose-built to be as addictive as possible.
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