Are you a TikTok user? Do you find yourself entertained by creators who make you laugh or provide makeup tips? Maybe you’ve caught yourself learning the latest dance moves or trying out trending recipes on your feed. That’s perfectly fine because you’re an adult. You handle adult responsibilities like paying bills and driving, so you’re aware of the potential hazards of social media and know how to navigate them.
But what about your children? If you have teenagers, they’ve likely expressed a desire to join platforms like TikTok or Snapchat. Allowing your 13-year-old to share snaps with friends or watch TikTok might be acceptable, as long as you monitor their activity closely. But what about their younger sibling? Is it appropriate for your eight-year-old to be on TikTok? The answer is likely no.
This topic has gained attention recently, particularly with celebrity mom Ava Johnson, who launched a TikTok account with her daughter, Mia. Their page showcases videos of Mia dancing and giving home tours. While creating entertaining content is a big part of their family’s brand, does an eight-year-old really need to be on TikTok? For me, the answer is a resounding no.
Adults can grasp the dangers involved. A child like Mia is likely unaware of the risks they expose themselves to. Unlike children from families with extensive security measures, most kids don’t have that level of protection. It’s alarming to see more and more young children creating social media profiles.
Many of these platforms set a minimum age of 13 for users, but that benchmark seems arbitrary—does turning 13 significantly increase maturity? I have a 13-year-old son who is active on Snapchat and TikTok, a decision I made reluctantly. His friends are on these platforms, and we all keep an eye on each other’s kids. We follow each other’s accounts and communicate quickly if anything inappropriate arises. However, my younger son, who is Mia’s age, will be staying away from social media for many more years.
A recent study published in Computers in Human Behavior supports the idea that young children should steer clear of social media due to its negative impacts on self-esteem and the risk of bullying. Children are simply too young to understand the implications of their online presence.
“Research indicates that the industry standard age limit of 13 for social media may indeed be a suitable guideline, provided it is enforced,” remarked Linda Charmaraman, Ph.D., director of the Youth, Media and Wellbeing Research Lab at the Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW). “These findings suggest that to support families with young children, it would be wise to track social media platforms and online friendships, establish some rules about screen time, and monitor how often children check these platforms, especially if they’re as young as 10.”
Let’s allow our kids to enjoy their childhood. They grow up fast enough as it is, so why rush them into the world of social media? Little kids on TikTok? No, thank you.
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Summary:
The article discusses the concerns around young children using social media platforms like TikTok, emphasizing the need for monitoring and the potential negative impacts on their self-esteem. With insights from research, it advocates for keeping kids off social media as they grow up quickly enough without added pressures.