Persuasive Essay Sample: Kids Under 11 Should Stay Off of Electronics

Do u have a kid or a sibling? If so are they exposed to the internet, well today I will be talking about it. 

When I come home from school, my siblings are watching television or on their iPad. My brother is 5, he is in kindergarten doesn't even want to do the homework he wants to play games. Although kids can learn a lot on the internet, most websites are not for kids and have inappropriate things. Do u have social media? Then u know the dangers and side effects. If u think kids under 10 should have social media then at the end of this essay u will get my point and why I think kids under 10 should not be on technology or social media. Why do I say kids under 10 should not have social media? From the article (“5 ways social media affects kids’ mental health” (and how parents could help!)”, family education, 2022, p.3) I found “Screen time and the use of social media fall under passive activities and stimulate the growth of development of your child's brain. In addition, watching television and social media apps do not prompt children to engage in critical thinking and hands-on learning, Why should people care about this argument? People should care about this argument because social media and electronics can mess up a child's mental health, self-esteem, hands-on learning, and sleep. The body produces melatonin, which helps us sleep and electronics Take it away from our body and makes it harder for us to fall asleep. It's been proven kids who join social media under the age of 11 are most likely to suffer from depression, sleep deprivation and are less likely to be cyberbullied.  Not only does technology inhibit social interaction, but it also affects hands-on interaction and attention span. Another huge setback in technology and social media is an addiction from personal experience I'm always procrastinating and barely get anything done, my mom just started watching Instagram reals and says how she is now addicted. What we do find with technology like smartphones and tablets is that they tend to increase our absent-mindedness, reduce our ability to think and remember, pay attention to things, and regulate emotion. Most of us have our phones within arm’s reach. Even the possibility of a message or a call or something happening on social media is enough to divert our attention away from what we are doing.  (the guardian lab, 2021, p.6) If u use social media a lot of the time, then maybe u read this essay and think sometimes that happens but social media isn't bad, the point that I am trying to get across is not that social media is bad it is just not safe space. “The teenage way of life has completely changed from what it was only twenty years ago. Now, there is a dramatic decrease in face-to-face communication, which reduces our generation’s ability to interact with others on a speaking level.” u probably think the person who wrote this was a parent or grandparent but it was a 10th grader from Seattle, the person who wrote this was right technology has changed the world and minds of many, instead of walking up to someone u can just text their technology has changed the world drastically.

 “When I see my friends on their phones, and I am around them, I feel disconnected even though we are only two feet apart…… Unfortunately, sometimes friends use their phones so much that it is difficult to have an actual conversation with them. Sometimes friends can get so socially attached to something such as a blog or gaming console that they lose touch with friends, creating small gaps and holes in close friendships/relationships.” (price-Mitchel, 2019, p.6)

Another setback in social media and technology is we don't get that much done with it, for example trying to do homework and watch videos and play games u most likely won't get homework done. Procrastinating... a big reason we procrastinate is the technology and social media. I have been focusing on my sport and school and I haven't been using my phone or being electronics or social media for at least four days I have been getting a lot done I got my grades up, I've been doing more homework, and I've been studying. Not getting things done because of phones, tablets, iPods, etc is another major setback in technology and social media. “When I have my phone out, it makes me feel like nothing else is going on around me. I use social media as a way to feel popular, important, and also just to fit in. My friends and I always compare ourselves to each other, wondering who has more Facebook friends or Twitter followers. But what ends up happening is I begin to talk less and end up relying on text for a conversation. Ever since I got a smartphone I have been distracted from everything. I watch television less, do homework less, and even spend less time with my friends and family.” (Price- Mitchell, 2019, p.10) I also found, “We live with technology all around us; phones in our pockets or purses, tablets on the nightstand, and computers at home and work. This technology has created a sense of urgency with every beep, ding, and buzz; making it incredibly difficult to focus. As soon as something flashes on the computer screen, we feel the need to tend to it. Instead of focusing on people in front of us, work, or tasks, we attend to dings, calls, and texts. If technology affects your focus, and damages productivity, read on!” (Johnson, 2022, p.1)

yes, it is true social media has many advantages like keeping in contact with friends, u can learn recipes, u can find study guides/ things for school or work and do many more things, but there are also many disadvantages, that I have mentioned before, there is so much negative feedback on social media. “but social media is fun” Yes that is true but if there are younger kids on social media they see and learn about more than they should. I have heard many stories of kids doing self-harm and killing themselves because of someone behind a screen. In conclusion, social media, and technology, in general, remain a huge problem for Kids under 11 not only affecting their mental health and the way they think about themselves but their brain development. People should care more about their kids being on social media, u should not allow kids under the age of 11 to always be on social media and electronics all the time, for all the reasons I've mentioned. Electronics affect a lot of necessary skills. I hope after reading this essay u understand why I think kids under 11 should stay off of electronics for a while.