iGeneration
Pre teens and
Social Media
Positive effects of Social Media
Not all social media sites are healthy environments for children, but many sites allow children to grow in many positive ways. The three main advantages that social media provides pre teens with are: Socialization and Communication, enhanced learning opportunities, and becoming an expert in the cyber world. If used safely and smartly, social media sites can be an advantage for pre teens.
Facebook's group chat allows users to make conversations with a specific group. This allows people to message ideas or comments between a specific group.
Socialization and Communication
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics article by Gwen O'Keefe, social media provides
1. opportunities for community engagement through raising money for charity and volunteering for local events, including political and philanthropic events;
2. enhancement of individual and collective creativity through development and sharing of artistic and musical endeavors;
3.growth of ideas and creation of blogs, podcasts, videos, and gaming sites;
4.expansion of one's online connections through shared interests to include others from more diverse backgrounds (such communication is an important step for all adolescents and affords the opportunity for respect, tolerance, and increased discourse about personal and global issues);
5. fostering of one's individual identity and unique social skills
Enhanced Learning Opportunities
Social media allows students to connect with each other online and work on group assignments or homework. Allowing students to collaborate online is a lovely feature. It allows students to continue working and share ideas outside of the classroom. This creative way of communicating is a positive asset to pre teens development.
Social media also provides a supportive environment to explore romance, friendship, and social status. Allowing children to learn about others online may provide children with support they may lack in traditional relationships. (Goldstein 1)
Children are looking at social networks to find information and advice. Using the internet to find information on unknown subjects allows children to build knowledge and think critically at an early stage.
Technology Pros
Marketers, businesses, companies, and schools are beginning to do most of their work online. Because children are being introduced to social media and the internet at such a young age, this gives them a large benefit over the adult population. The iGeneration is bringing new attitudes, new concepts, and new ideas to the table. Students can also benefit from sharing with bloggers from other ethnic groups or nations.
Jim Taylor, Ph.D.
Professor Taylor specializes in the psychology of business, sport, and parenting. He is the author of several books that can be located at http://www.psychologytoday.com/experts/jim-taylor-phd. "Specifically, children are learning how to use and become proficient with technology, developing their creative abilities, appreciating new and different perspectives, and enhancing thier communication skills.