A new national poll has found that 1 in 3 youth is using social media. It seems like the new reality is that children are online. They have access to the internet, online gaming, and social media. While this has been seen as just the way the world is now for them, they still need to learn how to navigate it. This means that parents have to now have conversations with their children about what it means to be a good digital citizen and if they are using social media, how they can safely stay connected to their friends and peers online.
According to Medical Xpress, a national poll was done that showed that 1 in 3 youth are on social media, which may be higher than what others thought. The survey also uncovered the challenges that parents face when watching over their children.
This poll was done by the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health and the details can be read in full here. It found that half of the children aged 10 to 12 years old are on social media, and a third of children between the ages of 7 and 9 years old are on social media.
While parents know how important it is to make sure they are watching their children’s activities, there are several challenges that get in their way, according to the poll.
- About 39% of parents said that watching their children online is too time-consuming for them, parents who have other children, tasks to complete around the home, and work jobs.
- Another 21% said that they are not able to locate how to set up parental controls, which could indicate that social media sites need to be more user-friendly to help parents set these up.
- Another 32% said that their children find ways to get around parental controls when they are in place.
These challenges can give insight into how social media platforms can help to make sure they are creating a safe space for children who are on their websites. We are living in a modern, digital age, and it is no longer acceptable to just turn a blind eye and believe that children are not on these apps, because this poll is showing that children are not only on the social media sites, but they are pretty good at navigating them on their own. Parents need to remain vigilant in watching their children online and making sure they are being safe.
Sources: Medical Xpress, Mott Poll