Internet Jungle

Being the parent of a teenager is something that has been a popular topic of conversation amongst parents since the beginning of time. I would hear my parents talk about me to other parents like I was a walking phenomenon. Now, as a parent to a teenager myself, I ask myself why I didn’t take notes. 

Raising children is something most parents are concerned about doing correctly, and social media has definitely changed the way we parent. This article discusses some of the pressures teenagers have in the social media age and how it affects them. Compared to 78% of adults, 95% of teenagers are on the internet. The idea scholars are noting in this article is concern that teenagers are not emotionally equipped to handle some of what they see on the internet even though they may have more access to online information than some “internet illiterate” parents. 

Having a teenage son at home and three teenage sisters, I would have to agree with the statistic that girls spend more time on social network sites and use them more actively than boys. My son’s constant usage of his phone is geared more towards music sharing apps and sites. 

Girls are more likely to post pictures of themselves as well, according to the article. I believe this has a lot to do with the way media markets women. They are told how to dress, what shape they should be, how they should act and I believe young girls are almost trained to constantly seek the approval of others. 

Another interesting topic the article brought up is how teenage girls are more selective about their profile pictures, assuring they choose the most attractive picture and also trying to look sexually attractive. It’s an interesting topic on whether or not these young girls who are posting the provocative pictures are intending the “advertise themselves sexually or are just imitating the media and their peers.”

An important initiative I have taken is to control my son’s privacy settings. These were worries parents did not have before but I make it a point to monitor what apps he is downloading and watch the content he posts on social media. I believe as parents it is important that we are not internet illiterate so we can have informed conversations with our children as to the dangers online and also teach them to navigate the content they may come across.