Kids and Social Networking

Facebook has recently hit 500 million users. Many of those users are kids and, according to neuroscientist Susan Greenfield, social networking sites could be having adverse effects on children. She, along with other scientists and psychologists, believe that children who use sites like Facebook on a regular basis are shortening their attention spans, hurting their communication skills, and hindering their abilities to make and keep relationships off-line. Some psychologists also believe that these sites are teaching kids to expect instant gratification.

I don't know about the science of the brain and how these websites can effect it, but I do believe that there is some truth to the idea that Facebook and MySpace could be damaging to communication and relationship skills. There are age requirements for these sites, but all kids have to do is change their birthdates by a couple of years and they are good to go. Once online, they become obsessed with all things Facebook. In my opinion, they spend to much time on the computer making friends instead of making them the old fashion way: in person. They focus so much energy on their "profiles" and "status updates" that I think sometimes they forget that there are more things in life besides Facebook. And then there's the problem of cyber bullying which seems to be becoming more and more prevalent in the news these days. Kids can go online and say things they would get in trouble for saying at school, and then other kids join in on the bullying because they aren't actually talking to a human being. They are just talking to a computer, and so they aren't seeing the effects their words are having on the person being harassed or teased.

I am not bashing social networking sites or the people who enjoy them, I just think that children, and adults for that matter, should learn to make friends and communicate with people in real life before they jump onto the internet. I do not personally have a Facebook account, nor do I ever care to have one. However, I think that Facebook is great for individuals looking to keep in touch with relatives and friends whom they can't see or talk to on a regular basis. But, personally, if I want to talk to someone I would rather call, text, or visit them. But hey, that's just me.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1153583/Social-websites-harm-childrens-brains-Chilling-warning-parents-neuroscientist.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kari-henley/facebook-and-kids-are-the_b_177357.html

http://harrison.patch.com/articles/constant-technology-bad-for-kids-development