TWO SIDES OF SOCIAL MEDIA FRIENDSHIP

In the midst of this pandemic mobile phones have becomes must for every child to have a better access to their schools. Increased use of mobiles have increased the access of  children using social media. The aim of my article is to give a brief outlook about the curse and boon about using mobile phones.

THE GOOD

Social media can help kids to stay connected with friends and family to volunteer or get involved with a campaign nonprofit or charity to enhance their creativity through sharing  of ideas music and art. Also it help the children meet  and interact with others who share similar interests.

THE BAD
The flip side is that social media can be a hub for things like cyber bullying and questionable activities. Without meaning to kids can easily share more online than they should.
One study showed that 9 out of  10 teens post photos of themselves online or use their real names on their profiles; 8 out of 10 reveal their birthdates and interests; and 7 out of 10 post their school name and the town where they live. Actions like this can make kids easy targets 
for online predators and others who might want to cause them harm.
These statistics about teens highlight the dangers of social media:

17% of teens say they have been contacted online by someone they did not know in a way that made them feel  scared or uncomfortable.
30% of teens say they have received online advertising that was inappropriate for their age
39% of teens admitted to lying about their age to gain access to websites

CONCERNS

In addiction to problems like cyber  bullying and online predators kids  also can face the possibility of a physical encounter with the wrong person .Many newer apps  automatically reveal the poster's location when they are used. This can tell anyone out there exactly where to find the person using the app and  photos videos' comments made online usually can't be taken back online usually   can't  be  impossible to completely erase it from the internet.

 Posting an inappropriate photo can damage a kid's reputation in ways that may cause problems years later - such as when a potential employer does a background check. And if a kid sends a mean-spirited tweet as a joke, it could be very hurtful to someone else and even taken as a threat.
Spending too much time on social media can be a downer, too. By seeing how many "friends" others have and viewing pictures of them having fun, kids may feel worse about themselves or feel they don't measure up to their peers.

WHAT PARENTS CAN DO

Its important to be aware of what your kids are doing online but trying too much can alienate them and damage the trust  you have built together. The key is to stay involved in a way that makes your kids understand that you respect their privacy but want to make  sure they are safe.

Here are some helpful hints to share with connected kids.
Be nice. Mean behavior is just as unacceptable in the virtual world as it is in the real world. Make it clear that you except your kids to treat others with respect and courtesy, embarrassing messages about others. And ask them to always tell you about any harassing or bullying messages that others may post.

                             Think twice before hitting" enter". Remind teens that what they post can be used against them. For example letting the world know that you are of on the vaccination or posting your home address gives you trouble. Teens also should avoid posting specific locations of parties or events as well as phone numbers.

Teach kids that "once it's out there you cant get it back." They shouldn't share anything on social media that they wouldn't want their teachers college admissions officers future  bosses-and yes grandma - to see Use privacy settings. Privacy settings are important and to highlight their importance go through the settings together to make sure your kids understand each one. Also explain that passwords are there to protect them against things like identity theft and should never be shared with anyone.
Don't  "friend " strangers." If  you don't know them don't friend them," This is a plan, simple-and safe-rule of  thumb.
Parents can help kids grounded in the real world by putting kids grounded in the real world by putting limits on media use. Keep computers in public area in the house avoid laptops and smartphones in bedrooms and set some rules on the use of technology(such as no cellphones at the dinner table).
And don't forget :Setting a good example through your own virtual behavior can go a long way toward helping your kids use social media safely.