How many hours of the day do you spend on the internet; surfing, checking Facebook, Twitter, or any other form of media? I know for myself, it can be 30+ minutes per day!
So let's talk about a younger age group. How many minutes per day are teens (ages 10-18) spending online? What does their future look like in terms of media and social interactions?
According to Rachel Ehmke's article, Teens and Social Media, from the Child Mind Institute, "Teens are masters at keeping themselves occupied in the hours after school until way past bedtime. When they're not doing their homework (and when they are) they're online and on their phones, texting, sharing, trolling, scrolling, you name it."
They do this to receive recognition and maintain their image (Click HERE to watch YouTube video or scroll down).
Each section discusses the mental implications of being in a world where social media drives our social interactions, but I want to take it further than just social media.
Social media is just the tip of the iceberg and just the beginning of a whole new form of social interaction, virtual interaction. In a virtual space teens, and adults, are able to create a whole new image.
Today, research shows that kids develop low self-esteem through the use of electronic communication because it removes the risks involved with making and maintaining friendships. In a virtual world, that risk could be removed even more.
1) Perfection will take on a whole new meaning, teens will no longer need to feel comfortable with their own bodies because they can create new ones. They can feel comfortable in a virtual body that they have complete control over, a body that is perfect.
How might acceptance change?
2) With virtual avatars, social interactions can be just as abruptly ended, as texting, by logging out.
3) Variables can be accounted for and controlled in virtual worlds, so the concept of an unknown would become non existent.
Wow that is very interesting! Great article, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAs a parent I found this really interesting!
ReplyDeleteAs a parent of 3 girls affected by this topic, I work hard to balance their interactions with media and more "normal" human interaction. They are limited on when they can access their electronics (like not at all at the dinner table, none while it is set time to do homework, when visitors come over or we go to an event with people et.c All electronics are tuned off or not brought to events with people at them to encourage one on one relationships with people. I see the benefits social media brings, but also the adverse side. Tweenies already struggling to develop thier own identity often can't interpret text messages for intent or tone and read into meaning creating greater stress. As for fame, I don't see that with my kids as an important value but that may be due to some of the "filters" I put on what they are exposed to. We discuss that normal people don't find their future spouse on the "bachelor" and it is not okay to kiss 9 men in the same week to sort through and find the right one. Starts at home and having open and honest communication.
ReplyDeleteI am actually 18 and I admit that I spend a lot of time online and on social media. This article gave me a lot to think about, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you all have found this post interesting! I plan on making a future post about how the coming virtual world will impact social communication, but it will take more research than just a few weeks. Hopefully it will be just an interesting and as informative as this one, if not more.
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine how the kids these days will get along socially. Seems they cannot so it without some kinda device
ReplyDeleteIt's crazy how everyone is "connected" yet not really! Even I find that I'm on the internet way too much!
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