Social Media and How It Affects Young Kids Research Paper Example

Kids rule most social media platforms these days, typically unsupervised as they are exposed to information from all kinds of sources. Parents have almost completely lost their ability to filter the kind of information and beliefs they want their children to hear as youth discover an extraordinary level of independence right at their fingertips. Both Nausicaa Renner, who wrote “How Social Media Shapes Our Identity,” and Dan Savage, writer of “It Gets Better,” seem to agree that with that independence, communication and information has become much more readily available nowadays. Children have found independence through the internet, and with it a sea of different opinions that bring new perspectives beyond what their parents want them to see. Savage expands on Renner’s beliefs about how social media has changed the childhood experience, utilizing real world examples to show how children’s use of the internet and the independence that affords has led to a decrease in ignorance and a newfound voice. 

Social media has provided a way for children to circumvent the efforts of adults to shelter kids from what they believe to be wrong, and instead form their own opinions. Renner writes “In the past, adults refused to acknowledge children’s agency, or imposed on them an idealized notion of innocence and purity” (2). Adults often have their own ideas on what is right and what children should be, and before the internet, children did not have much of a chance to explore beyond their parent’s principles. Now, kids have access to communities, information, and individuals they did not before, giving them much more freedom and the ability to step outside the rose-tinted bubble their parents carefully constructed. This serves as a great way to break the cycle of ignorance, wherein parents raise children to have one prejudice or another, and without outside input, kids have little choice but to believe them and grow up to do the same to their kids. Recently, many kids have been trying to fight back against this ignorance, a marked difference compared to the not-so-distant past. In his essay Savage describes the controlling practices many parents have used to try to avoid their child developing their own views and, in this case, become gay. Savage states “And the people gay teenagers need most – their own parents – often believe that they can somehow prevent their children from growing up to be gay – or from ever coming out – by depriving them of information, resources, support, and positive role models.” (3). This method of depriving kids of information may have worked to create ignorance and hate in the past, but with the internet there is only so much parents can do now to stop children from slipping out of their grasp. Savage shows how social media can be weaponized against ignorant parents trying to shelter their kids, reaching many children who otherwise would have never found support or answers. Renner acknowledges how parents tend to shelter their kids and paint the world in black and white. Savage then exhibits how social media can be practically used by kids nowadays to bypass parents’ ignorance, leading to this new level of autonomy.  

A key aspect of how social media is affecting kids is the significant increase in independence that the internet provides and all that entails. Renner states “The arrival of cheaply made instant photos, in the nineteen-sixties, allowed children to seize a means of production, and the arrival of the Internet gave them an unprecedented degree of self-determination” (2). Never before have children had the ability to really control the narrative of their own life, and have such a degree of ‘self-determination’ or independence, and already the effects are showing. The ability to share and communicate without the influence of parents has really encouraged kids to speak out about issues or find outside opinions and support. A notable example is Greta Thunberg, who started protesting at fifteen and is known around the world for her work. This is made possible by the internet which shared videos of her and was willing to listen. Savage’s article provides a great real-world example of the independent communication aspect, and the way it changed LGBTQ childhoods moving forward. Savage writes “We weren’t waiting for anyone’s permission anymore. We found our voices. And LGBT adults who made videos for the project weren’t just talking at LGBT youth. The kids who watched videos sent emails, via YouTube, to the adults posting them.” (4). Social media made it so people did not have to wait, through torment and ridicule, until they were eighteen to find acceptance or a better life. The internet does not solve all these problems, but what it does do is give the chance for youth to find support and communities online. Although Renner has such a largely negative tone towards social media, even she did not outright denounce this newfound independence, only remarking on its uniqueness. Savage is then able to take this concept further by putting an incredibly positive spin on the whole idea of communication independent from parents’ controlling grasp. Social media has given kids a voice to share and teach with, and although it may not always be as positive as projects like ‘It Gets Better,’ it has undeniably changed the way children grow and learn about the world.  

Some may say that social media is a negative force that has only created more ignorance, especially in impressionable children. They may even make the arguments that social media can be controlled by parents to limit a child’s independence and pocket communities of ignorant people occasionally become echo chambers for negativity and ignorance. This kind of criticism is likely to be lobbied by parents and older generations, as they do not often have a positive view of the internet in the first place, and do not want to admit the power kids hold nowadays. Agreeing would also mean admitting their own faults when it comes to being prone to prejudice and information control. However, they do have some valid points, for example many people, including a disturbing number of kids, latch onto ignorant communities online and can say stuff that may not be socially acceptable in the real world, but with anonymity on their side, face no consequences and do not learn. That the internet does not really give kids any freedom to truly make an impact. Although much of this criticism has some merit, those who manage to find more intolerant communities are outliers, not the majority. Furthermore, these communities often crumble as people inevitably realize how harmful their views are. The increase in communication and voices means that some are willing to have hard conversations and try to show people the error of their ways. Social media is also highly effective when it comes to organizing charities or protests, and kids are becoming increasingly involved in them. Many attended BLM marches during the pandemic or shared resources and support, and it all adds up to really make a difference.  

A world where children get to tell their stories and explore different worldviews is a refreshingly positive take on the good social media can do. Savage’s article seems naively pleasant in comparison to Renner’s pessimism towards most social media topics. However, it does an excellent job of showing the promising characteristics of children’s relationship with social media and how freeing it can be for some. The increase in activism among youth really is nice to see, and hopefully it continues in future generations. This surge in independence certainly can be good, but I worry because the internet is not childproofed and there are some serious concerns when it comes to just letting kids wander the web. Strangers, extremist groups, and adult content if left uncensored can be harmful for young children with absolutely no internet supervision. The challenge has become finding the right balance between allowing kids to explore and connect on social media, and keeping them safe.