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Are Social Media Restrictions for Kids Under 13 Ineffective?

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Are Social Media Restrictions for Kids Under 13 Ineffective?

By Movieguide® Contributor

The years of a tweenager are no longer marked by tangible middle-school drama, crushes and new learning experiences — now, social media addiction dominates life for kids aged 11 and 12.

“The study of over 10,000 American youth reveals that most pre-teens are active on platforms they’re technically too young to use,” StudyFinds reported. “As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments against Congress’ TikTok ban, the research pulls back the curtain on what many parents have long suspected: nearly 64% of pre-teens have at least one social media account, flouting minimum age requirements and raising concerns about online safety and mental health impacts.”

According to researchers, TikTok is the most popular platform among tweens, as 67% hold social media accounts. Instagram and YouTube tail close behind.

The minimum age to have an Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube or Reddit account is 13. Preteens are finding ways to skirt around those restrictions.

“Policymakers need to look at TikTok as a systemic social media issue and create effective measures that protect children online,” said Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals and the lead author of the study. “TikTok is the most popular social media platform for children, yet kids reported having more than three different social media accounts, including Instagram and Snapchat.”

Researchers noted gender differences among platform users. Females tended to use TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest and Snapchat while males favored YouTube and Reddit. A portion of the study candidates, 6.3%, admitted they have one or more secret accounts their parents don’t know about.

“Signs of problematic use and potential addiction emerged as significant concerns. Twenty-five percent of children with social media accounts reported often thinking about social media apps, and another 25% said they use the apps to forget about their problems,” StudyFinds reported. “Moreover, 17% of users tried to reduce their social media use but couldn’t, while 11% reported that excessive use had negatively impacted their schoolwork.”

READ MORE: ARE CHILD SCREEN TIME AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES CORRELATED? IT’S COMPLICATED…

“Our study revealed a quarter of children reported elements of addiction while using social media, with some as young as eleven years old,” Nagata stated. “The research shows underage social media use is linked with greater symptoms of depression, eating disorders, ADHD, and disruptive behaviors. When talking about social media usage and policies, we need to prioritize the health and safety of our children.”

Many parents and state governments have recently raised concerns about youngsters’ social media use. The U.S. Surgeon General even called for age verification systems on social media, stating they should have “warning labels,” like there are for tobacco

“Every parent and family should have a family media plan to ensure children and adults stay safe online and develop a healthy relationship with screens and social media,” said Nagata. “Parents can create strong relationships with their children by starting open conversations and modeling good behaviors.”

The American Psychological Association recommends parents to:

  1. Recognize developing brains may be especially vulnerable to specific social media features.

  2. Monitor and discuss your child’s social media use.

  3. Model healthy social media use.

  4. Watch for problematic social media use.

  5. Teach social media literacy.

Problematic social media use can look like interference with commitments, choosing social media over face-to-face interactions, low sleep quality, low physical activity, a return to social media when they previously voiced that they want to stop, strong urges to check social media and deceptive behavior that lets them spend more time online.

Dr. Stacy Doumas, Chief of the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at Hackensack Meridian’s Jersey Shore University Medical Center says, “It’s really about having conversations about [what’s] out there. And encouraging age-appropriate, healthy behaviors that revolve around friendships and different activities that might be more productive than spending time online.”

READ MORE: WILL FLORIDA’S SOCIAL MEDIA BAN FOR UNDERAGE USERS GO INTO EFFECT?


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