Why teenagers shouldn't use social media

Have your parents ever told you not to use social media? That it is dangerous and does bad things to your brain? You might think they are crazy and have told them you are old enough to make your own decisions. Sadly, my friend, it is true, and using social media can be risky.

Lots of people use social media. They use it to connect with friends, learn new things, and sell their old stuff. Sounds fun right? But Social media is meant for adults, not kids. You might now ask "What is a kid? When do I become an adult?". According to the government, you are considered a child until you turn 18 but your brain doesn't stop developing until you are 24 years old. That is a long time from now. Even as an adult, you should always be careful and think before you post anything.

But what is so dangerous about social media? Think about a little kid, 8 years old, so cute, so innocent, being on Ticktock and talking with a fully mature adult. If the adult asks the kid for their address, the kid wouldn't know better than to tell the stranger their address. Now you think "What is an 8 year old doing on Ticktock?!". It is the same thing with a teenager. You tell the man your address, and he looks it up. And the next thing you know, he is at your house, ready to kidnap you. You are still too young to understand these things. So make sure you don't post any private information.

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Researchers have shown that teenagers who spend over five hours on their phones and use social media are more likely to experience anxiety and depression because of cyberbullying compared to those without phones. Children who own a phone are not children anymore. They don't use their imagination and their brain develop differently.

One of the most dangerous apps for kids is Snapchat. Why? Because Snapchat uses GPS. You can see where your friends are all the time. And if a stranger becomes your "friend," they can see your real-time location. So if you have Snapchat, delete it. Now. And I am not just talking about social media—online games such as Minecraft and Roblox are also really dangerous and addictive. And if you want to know which social media platform is the safest, it is Facebook and Instagram. But keep in mind, that they are all dangerous.

Now that you have learned all the bad things about social media, I will tell you how to be safe.

1) Check the settings in your social accounts to ensure your phone number and email addresses are hidden from public view and make sure you know who can see your pictures.

2) Avoid sharing your street address and your current location. If you take a picture of your house, ensure your number cannot be seen.

3) Double-check your friend list before accepting a request from someone you think is already a friend. If their request appears, they may have been hacked.

4) Many third-party websites give you the option of registering using Facebook or Google instead of setting up new usernames and passwords. By using this option, you are giving the new site more information than you need to. And if someone goes into your account, they have more information about you.

There is a video button at the end of this article. If you press it, there will be more information about social media. I hope you changed your mind about all of this. Remember to stay safe and everything will be all right!

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