Technology can be an amazing tool, however, there are also concerns about how it impacts self-perception and privacy. While social media can be praised as a way to connect with both family and friends during difficult times, it is not without its drawbacks.
And while it is a way to share creative and fun ideas, the social media world is both complex and confusing, and poses significant risks. For instance, young people first navigating social media might be exposed to inappropriate or upsetting content that they are unprepared to witness. Furthermore, developing an understanding of creating and maintaining positive relationships online is a huge task that some young people may not be ready for.
Relationships formed online need to be navigated with at least some caution while not yet aware of the potential risks that are involved with the internet. And of course we have yet to mention the risk of exposure to cyberbullying, privacy issues, and a waning awareness of reality.
And while we are in our third national lockdown, it is not surprising that young people are turning to social media rather than reality. They are cut off from their friends and classmates, left only with the internet for company. Their friends, families and the influencers they follow are all likely to be posting the highlights of their lives rather than the lockdown realities meaning the perception of the people they know online is likely to be distorted somewhat.
And of course, these misconceptions, and the glamorizing of a feigned reality can cause online problems to become all to real.
Police have warned that social media is going to be the cause in a rise of knife crime and gang violence once lockdown rules are lifted:. Socialising with and having the respect of your peers is important to young people. This desire to seek approval may encourage them to reinforce positive habits. However, it may also encourage them to partake in risk taking behavior such as drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or being exposed to gang crime: especially online via social media as we have mentioned.
Physical health Personal safety Family conflict Financial security Suicide Discrimination Gender differences in the top issues of personal concern for young people The top two personal issues of concern for both females and males were coping with stress and school or study problems.
For females, the third highest concern was body image , whereas for males it was physical health. In general more females were concerned about personal issues than males. How happy are young people? Young people were asked to rate how happy they were with their life as a whole on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 indicates feeling very sad, 5 indicates not happy or sad and 10 indicates that they felt very happy.
However, despite more males reporting feeling happier, we recently learned that the male suicide crisis is 3 times worse than previously thought Are you struggling to cope with stress, school problems or mental health? Find out if the teen has suicide ideation thoughts , a plan, and means and if so, what it entails. The more specific the plan, the higher the degree of risk for the teenager.
Take it seriously and seek help. Tell the teenager that you will do whatever you can to prevent them from committing suicide. Remove or securely lock guns, pills, medications and other potential lethal means and make them out of reach of the teen.
The "No Suicide contract" intervention is controversial. If you are feeling suicidal, thinking about hurting yourself, or are concerned that someone you know may be in danger of hurting him or herself, call or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at TALK Don't debate the merits of living or dying with an actively suicidal teen. Don't ask why the teenager would like to commit suicide.
Suicidal teens may not know why. Don't stay passive or ignore the threat of a suicidal teenager. Seek mental health help. Top of Page. Bullying can have many different forms. It can be online cyberbullying , directly in-person through physical or verbal attack,s or indirectly through exclusion, spreading rumors, etc.
Cyberbullying or online bullying is a serious problem that is growing among pre-teens, teenagers, and college-aged students. Girls are more likely than boys to be cyberbullies due to the verbal non physical nature of online communication. Cyberbullying can be a more serious problem than direct in-person bullying or school bullying because the online bullies do not have a 'reality check' or feedback, as the online bully does not get to see or hear the pain or harm they inflicted on the victim.
It is very easy for cyberbullies to think or convince themselves they are merely "joking" because the virtual abuse does not feel "real". LGBTQI lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and intersex youth are particularly vulnerable to bullying both online and offline.
In summary: Online bullying or cyberbullying is a widespread and fast growing phenomenon while offline bullying continues to be a problem as well. Lack of awareness and education efforts among parents, counselors, school staff, and students make cyberbullying and offline bullying a continual threat to young people's confidence and safety. Demand that the school develop comprehensive educational programs and policies about cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying is illegal in many states. In serious cases, seek legal advice or request protection from school officials. Teach your child to speak up on behalf of those who are being bullied and against the bullies. Demand that the school develop protocol and comprehensive educational policies about bullying to keep school safe for everyone.
There is safety in numbers. Younger generations such as teenagers, unlike their parents' generations, generally socialize, hang out, communicate, and share pictures and videos online rather than in person. While getting the young people out of their home and have them meet array of people and places, it also rose some security and safety concerns.
Digital natives prefer to text rather than talk on the phone. They do not listen or leave voice mails, and prefer to socialize on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram rather than on the playground or at the town square.
Some young people, primarily teenagers, spend too much time in front of a computer screen. Some spend up to 20 hours a day, seven days a week. Spending countless hours a day, every day, on gaming or perusing the Internet can interfere with young people's emotional, physical, and intellectual development.
However, sometimes it may be just a phase. Controlling the use of online devices and using parental control software is generally successful only with pre-teen children.
Unlike young parents, older digital immigrant parents' concerns regarding the digital native's use of online technology is often rooted in misunderstanding, ignorance, and unfounded fears. It is important for parents to realize that when your children are online they are generally not passively watching the screen like watching TV. They are engaged in social networking, gaming, posting videos and pictures, texting, etc. Trying to forcefully control teenagers' online use, such as gaming, often leads to alienation from parents and an increased teen desire to use such devices.
This is the time for conversations and discussion rather than imposing ineffective and alienating rules. Ultimately, in their own time, most digital natives regulate themselves and find a balance between their online and offline lives. In summary: It is common for the digital native, especially teens and young adults to over-use technology, especially online social networking and online gaming sites.
Parents and teachers should strive to understand children's affinity for technology given their status as digital natives. Young people are not "addicted" simply because they are normal "digital natives" who spend a lot of time online in comparison, especially to older "digital immigrant" parents.
Learn about what the Internet means to your digital native children by engaging with them in conversation and listening to them compassionately and attentively.
Install parental control software when children are young. When they get older nearing teenage age, most of them will find ways to circumvent the control. This is the time to move from attempts to control to conversations. Observe what your digital native children are engaged in online with curiosity, open eyes and an open heart. Explore what actual games are played, how these games are played, with whom they are played and even play with them even if you are very bad at it.
Learn what your children likes about the games and what the psychological allures of the games are. Try to agree on time limits with your child via a dialogue rather than trying to enforce your own unilateral limits. Help your children by having respectful conversations. Achieve balance between online and offline activities, during the week v. Negotiate the limits with teenager children. They are more likely to follow agreements that are set via true negotiation rather than those unilaterally imposed by parents.
Don't nag, label "You're an addict! Don't arbitrarily take the digital device from teenagers. It will only increase the alienation between you and your child. The 21th century introduced a new and different or intensification of form of sexuality, the hookup culture. The hookup culture accepts and encourages casual sexual encounters, one-night stands and similar sexual, yet non-personal activities. Mission Australia Housing Children, youth, families and communities Understanding young people Keeping children and young people safe What is domestic and family violence?
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