Roving Teen Reporter: Social Media Time Out

In a new survey, almost 95% of youth aged 13-17 reported they were using a social media platform. Today it feels as if almost every child has immediate access to the piercing lights of digital screens.

Though companies have been attempting to limit the imposition of age restrictions on their platforms, Meta reached a $17 billion settlement with 51 U.S. states and territories to protect young users of Instagram and Facebook by implementing stricter safety rules for users under age 18. The agreement states that in the next 10 years the company will use these funds to fund youth mental health and safety.

Alex Wiklund, social media manager for Peer Assistant Learners, and Claire Zhou, editor in chief of the Falconer, support restrictions: “Super early social media usage can be really bad for people’s digital footprint,” Wiklund said. “When people are so young they could post things that they don’t know are offensive or maybe even cringy…they can also come across things that are inappropriate for their age group.”

Zhou finds that a restriction on children under 13 years old would be effective. “Before then, it is important for children to learn to interact with the world ouside of the screen and develop critical skills such as maintaining eye contact and striking up conversations with new people,” Zhou ssaid. “Overuse of social media in the period before and during middle school, where students are beginning to grapple with identity, hinders their ability to organically find confidence, in my opinion.”

Although there are dangers, Wiklund still admires the positive aspects. “Social media can be really beneficial if it’s used in the correct way by children,” Wiklund said. “It can help you grow interests, hobbies and sparks, and it can really help kids make friends and grow a community.”