Social Media & Texting

the explosion of social media in today's society has completely over taken the virtual world. You really can't even get online without seeing one of these Facebook, Twitter, or GooglePlus logos. Social media is
SO what are the biggest concerns pertaining to social media and children/youth?

well, there are a few minor things, and a few major things. most of all, it has to do with the CONTEXT in which the social media is being used. 

Is social media replacing valuable face-to-face social interactions, or helping to create new opportunities for them? 

Is social media influencing the way that children and adolescents interpret and perceive their body image? 

Is there such a thing as TOO MUCH internet exposure? 

at this point, We Just Don't Really Know. since the scientific method requires testing after testing after testing, and with the internet being only about 20 years old, there isn't any scientific Facts yet that can determine whether social media has more negative or positive effects on development. So what do we know?
social media does encourage children and teens to interact with each other, but we are now in a "Generation Like" where young people are solely posting personal or private experiences online to gain the acceptance of their peers. One thing that does concern me is the ways in which adolescents respond to getting "likes", almost as if it's a drug addiction or chasing a temporary high. Once the social media is seen as a social skills compensation tool, I hope that parents are still actively having their children practice other forms of social interaction.

The use of texting affecting literacy or the way social connectedness influences self-esteem or social anxiety have been studied in contemporary research. For example, Gonzalez (2014) found evidence of text messages affecting self-esteem in a positive way, since they engage in more disclosure than when face to face with peers. For children or adolescents with social anxiety issues, texting is used as a mode of communication that opens more social opportunities (Pierce, 2009).

Again, I think the key is for parents to moderate and take a responsibility in knowing what their child's interests are and how much time they are dedicating to it. In my own opinion, it's imperative for conversations about social media be present among families, so that children and adolescents gain alternative perspectives about both it's ups and downs.