In recent years there’s been a lot of ranting about the “negative effects of social media on children” from media pundits, politicians, tech journalists, sociologists, authors, teachers and anyone else with (ironically) a social media account. Something all of these opiners have in common is that they are old.
Like old people of every generation, they want to control the younger generation’s behavior.
Old people (including me) don’t understand the appeal of social media. We don’t look at or our cell phones 24/7. We don’t scroll through Instagram and TikTok for hours on end.
Why?
Because we’re old. As a GenX’r, I grew up without the Internet and cell phones so I have memories of real-life interactions, dating, and social activities. Millennials lived part of their lives before smartphones and social media existed. Boomers didn’t even have computers for most of their lives.
So we cannot imagine what it is like to be a kid today who’s had cell phones, iPads and social media in front of them since the day they were born.
It’s ingrained in them as much as going to church, having family dinners, walking to school or watching 3 channels on TV was to us.
People who want to control social media access tell kids it is because this is good for them.
I won’t be doing that.
- First, because no kid ever wants to hear giving up something is good for them.
- Second, because it is completely ineffective in changing kids’ behavior.
- Third, because it never works.
This is not a problem that old
people will resolve. It reminds me of attempts by parents, government, religious leaders and scolds to control:
- Drinking alcohol
- Driving too fast
- Smoking
- Rock Music
- Rap Music (oh the horror!)
- Video Games
- R Movies
Somehow, most kids managed to survive. We made mistakes, grew up and figured it out.
So will the current crop of teens.
