I selfie, therefore, I am?
Is social media as safe option for our students? Is it even safe for adults? Let’s jump into the age-old debate of social media – cannot live with it or cannot live without it. Yes, the addiction is legit!
As Mike and Kaela indicated, social media is robbing children of their childhood. It is forcing them to grow up too quickly and, I would argue, it is creating a distorted sense of belonging. Instead of growing that comfort and support within their family and to a lesser extent their peers, they are developing an unhealthy form of attachment to strangers and being overwhelmingly influenced by individuals on the other side of their screens. This is terrifying! Their fundamental identity is being psychologically influenced by strangers; this is detrimental to their well-being and sense of self.
Aside from the manipulation on their sense of self, children, youth, and teens are exhibiting increasingly higher mental health struggles, which is attributed to the direct influence of social media. These mental health struggles can be further exploited by online bullies and others that prey on vulnerable and innocent children. Cyberbullying is a terrible and tragic experience many children face and have been harmfully stigmatized to the point of so much pain they unalive themselves. So many children already struggle with a lack self-worth issues and have not yet developed any resiliency to fend off the online bullies. Yes, the negative influence of social media in children’s lives must be stopped!
Carol and Nofisat claimed social media is bringing children together; however, as previously stated, this can be a negative form of attachment through peers instead of their families. They argued the correlation between mental health issues and social media trends was tenuous at best; however, their rational was focused more on the intervention of technology in children’s lives than the effects of social media. They claimed it brings families together and prepares them for the world around them. Again, these are some of the beneficial effects of technology in family’s lives, not due to the negative impacts of social media. Social media does not bring families together; it isolates the individuals from each other.
However, is social media, like technology, beneficial if used for blended learning or in support of individuals with special needs? Does it serve a purpose in our society?
I would argue no! Even adults that are ‘influenced’ in negative and harmful ways by social media trends and seem to also shift their sense of identity to conform to what the social media “influencers” dictate is worthy. The fact that being an Influencer is even a profession indicates how unhealthy our addiction to social media content and creators truly is. If adults struggle with these trends and being true to their own sense of self, morals, and beliefs, children at such vulnerable stages of development do not stand a chance. And do not even get me started on the ‘male loneliness epidemic’ that has scourged society lately due to social media content/influencers. Or the hypersexualization of young girls that seems to force them into the adult sphere at younger and younger ages. Ugh! Let’s let kids be kids – let them play, be creative, and stay safe and supported for as long as we can.
2 thoughts on “I selfie, therefore, I am?”
Thank you Rose for sparking this vital discussion. I witnessed a disturbing scenario in my own neighborhood two years ago. A 7 year old girl spent nearly all her free moments creating TikToks and Reels, pressured by her parents who see it as an income stream. She began experiencing frequent emotional breakdowns with tears, anxiety, exhaustion, and burnout becoming part of her daily routine.
This situation highlights the immense mental toll and psychological impact of pushing very young children into a glamorous but toxic performance culture fueled by social media. These kids are expected to curate a flawless image, chase views, and endure relentless public exposure with little choice, autonomy, or control over their content or earnings. The constant pressure to perform for likes or sponsorships often leads to identity confusion and emotional exploitation.
Many child influencers face this intense show culture without proper protections for their mental health or privacy. Ironically, even adult influencers suffer from mental stress and the pressure to conform to social media trends, showing how deeply damaging these platforms can be to one’s sense of self.
In the case I observed, the child’s joy disappeared and was replaced by performance pressure and exhaustion. The digital stage consumed moments that should have been spent in normal childhood activities such as breath, play, rest, and imagination.
Hello Rose,
I understand your viewpoint. Social media does present real treats, such as cyberbullying, screen addiction, and a decline in face-face interactions. However, it is important to consider the degree of guidance children have. When used intentionally, social media can positively support healthy development by allowing children interact with peers, explore their interest and express themselves, especially for those who may find interpersonal communication challenging.
Both empirical studies and real-world experiences show that, when paired with appropriate boundaries, instruction in digital literacy, and active parental engagement, children can be educated to use social media in positive and empowering ways.
While some people view this as a childhood spoiler, we might more usefully view this as a change that requires our attention to adapt our parenting and educational approaches to meet the realities of growing up in a digital world. My kids use a lot of YouTube, but I balance their screen time with visits to the library, walks in the park and as much physical interactive activities as is possible.