Social media represent an important communication tool designed for humans to interact through technology. They allow us to establish links and be informed within a global and virtual framework. Therefore, we have the potential to communicate and interact with countless people. However, there are also risks that we must know and know how to face.

Social networks are here to stay and we cannot take this lightly, especially if we take into account that for many young people having access to them is like an outlet since it makes it easier for them to express themselves through this medium, behind the screen, who interact personally, lose the ability or directly do not develop it, to express face to face and in real time their experiences, feelings, fears, needs. They fail to establish a relationship of empathy with their environment, since to achieve this they must put themselves in the place of the other. Actually, it happened to me too. When I'm busy with the e-book that i read, i will forget about my surroundings. And of course, people label me as an indifferent girl.

Social media are not the solution to all the evils, and problems of society, education or human relationships . But it is contributing in an important way to the development of the identity of minors. Currently, the average age of starting the social media world is set at 7 years. Children begin to need to feel a part of a social group when they are a little older. For this reason, they spend more time connected on social media trying to interact with their friends or followers than eating, sleeping, or studying.

The problems begin in children and young people when they stop living in the real world, and a cyber addiction is generated causing the child to stop seeing their friends and install themselves in front of the screen with their social media. The adolescent pays more attention to their phone than do perform in studies because obsessively checks social networks. In all these cases, there is a clear negative interference in everyday life.

One study found that 19% of BF GEIR younger than age 6 were able to tar on WB computers by themselves (Rideout, 2006). We must call for the responsibility that parents have in this matter. They are the ones who should be concerned that their children do not get too exposed to social media. Be attentive to what type of social media used. Some social media have very violent content, which produces a hyperactivity of the minor and a value alteration. Control the exposure time. A school child should not play with these social media for more than 1 hour a day. Hopefully, this daily hour can be divided into periods of 20 minutes each. This reduces the risk of excessive addiction which affects not only the social communication, but also the child's own health.

It is emphasized that the family should be the first teacher in character education. The problem is when you don't have a family, it is dysfunctional, it undergoes a very great cultural change or the parents should work a day to survive. It emphasizes that the formation of a child in virtues requires a broader network. It cannot depend only on the family because the adolescent needs to be able to relate outside of it.

Social networks and connectivity are part of the digital age and we cannot ignore the way in which it has changed and generated new habits ,but also new ways of communicating, obtaining communication and even generating new job demands. Like all great powers, it implies great responsibility and that is what is denoted when the relationship between the use of social networks and the academic performance of many university students is verified. Generate those interest children more active spaces communication in the family with great topics. The important thing here is that parents to take charge of making a family. It's comfortable to leave kids in charge of social media for hours, but in the long run, it will have serious consequences. There are many activities that are more beneficial for children and in which the whole family can participate like walks in the fresh air, visits to interactive museums, playing sports, etc. This can make children forget about social media which is always attached to children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Resources

Bryant, A. (2018). The effect of social media on the physical, social emotional, and cognitive development of adolescents.

Zimmerman, F. J., & Christakis, D. A. (2007). Associations between Content Types of Early Media Exposure and Subsequent Attentional Problems. Pediatrics, 120(5), 986-992.

Rideout, V. &. Hamel, E.(2006). The media family: electronic media in the lives of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their parents. Menlo Park, CA: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

Strasburger, V. C. (2013). Children, adolescents, and the media. Sage Publications.