In the 21 st century, most children in the developed world have access to different social media platforms. Social media offers new opportunities to socialize and engage with others in different parts of the world. Notwithstanding, social media is associated with numerous threats: social media addiction, popularity contests, pornography, cyberbullying, anxiety, depression, and suicides. However, parents are oblivious to the danger posed by social media and believe that physical threats offer a greater risk to children. The review will demonstrate that social media poses a more significant threat to children than physical and external threats.
Summary
The technological advancements of the 21 st century have resulted in developing different social media platforms that are extremely popular among children. However, the development of social media platforms has resulted in different threats that undermine children's quality of life. School-aged children spend a lot of time online, on social media, and less time interacting and engaging in real life, autonomy, and free play (Winans, Muratore & Winans, 2020). Excessive use of social media has resulted in social media addiction, which has impacted face-to-face communication skills and has reduced emotional connection among children. The rise in the popularity of social media has resulted in popularity contests to gain followers and likes. This has resulted in anxiety and depression, with children going to the extremes to gain peers' approval. Social media offers pl atforms where children can easily access pornography, which impacts their emotional development and has resulted in women's objectification. Pedophiles also use social media to solicit child pornography, with some looking to sexually exploit minors (Winans, Muratore & Winans, 2020). Social media has also exposed children to cyberbullying, resulting in anxiety, depression, and in extreme cases, suicides. What is even more surprising is patents are oblivious to the dangers of social media. Most parents believe that the most significant danger to their children is external and physical danger. Social media development in the current digital age poses a greater risk to children than physical threats.
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Analysis a nd Ev a luation
Cultural Objects and their Impact
Childhood 2.0 explores the shift in culture from the mid-20 th century to the 21 st century. Before the invention of the internet and social media platforms, children had a simpler and more meaningful life (Winans, Muratore & Winans, 2020). Children in the mid-20 th century had to leave the house to socialize. Children used to spend most of their day outside playing. During this period, some of the predominant cultural objects included bicycles, baseballs, basketballs, zip lines, etc. This represents a shift from the current cultural trend. Children are spending less time exploring their surroundings and engaging with friends physically and are more concerned with staying indoors and browsing the internet or social media. Some of the cultural objects in the 21 st century include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. The change in cultural objects has meant that children in the 21 st century love being indoors and engaging and socializing on social media platforms.
Filmmakers’ Role in Production
The filmmakers play a vital role in shedding light on the dangers of social media. Jamin and Kiowa Wians, and Robert Muratore grew up in the pre-internet era and understood social media's risks to children. Jamin and Kiowa Winans spent five years working with children. They discovered that social media harms the emotional and physical wellbeing of children (About the Documentary, 2020). Through producing the film, Robert Muratore learned that parents have been ignorant of the threat posed by social media. He advocates for a change in strategy and habit to ensure p arents are more aware of social media dangers. The filmmakers’ position in society has helped them take a stand against social media threats to raise awareness among parents and encourage them to take an active role in their children's emotional and mental development. The cultural objects presented by social media offer an ethical dilemma. Social media platforms provide numerous advantages that make them an asset to children. Social media offers threats that are detrimental to the mental and emotional wellbeing of children. The filmmakers believe that social media poses a significant danger to children and encourages parents to recognize the threat it presents to children's emotional and mental health.
Conclusion
Parents acknowledge that social media poses a more significant threat to children than physical and external threats. Consequently, parents must monitor social media activities to ensure their safety. Additionally, parents should offer guidance and restrictions and regularly engage with children to protect their emotional and mental wellbeing. The filmmakers have helped raise awareness of the social media threat and have called parents to protect children's emotional and mental wellbeing.
References
About the documentary. (2020). Childhood 2.0, https://www.childhood2movie.com/?utm_source=organic%20youtube&utm_medium=docu&utm_campaign=documentary%20(resource)
Winans, Muratore & Winans. (2020). Social media dangers documentary — childhood 2.0. Bark, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He3IJJhFy-I&t=103s&ab_channel=Bark
