In paragraph 8, what reason does boyd give to explain why adults may be so concerned about teenagers’ use of social media? What counterclaim has she already used to respond to this concern
Answers
Some experts worry that teens are more anxious and have lower self-esteem because of social media and texting. There are key differences to socializing online. Teens miss out more on things like body language and facial expressions. This can lead to more misunderstandings and hurt feelings. It can also make talking in person feel more intimidating. In real life you can’t spend time crafting the perfect response. You can’t make sure you look exactly the way you want to look. If you have a disagreement, you need to know how to respond in real time.
Another big issue is that it is common for kids to feel bad about themselves when they see everyone online looking perfect. Teens often try to compensate by sharing pictures that make them look perfect, too. Then, when their social media identity doesn’t match how they actually feel, they can end up feeling worse.
Peer acceptance is extremely important for teenagers. It is easy to get caught up counting “likes” on social media. Teens can end up taking hundreds of photos, searching for the one that people will like most. And if the likes don’t come in, it can feel very personal.
Parents can help by setting a good example of how to use tech. Try to give kids your full attention when you are with them. If your head is often bent over a screen you’re sending the wrong message. Establish tech-free zones in in the house and tech-free hours.
To help build self-esteem, get kids involved in something they’re interested in. When kids learn to feel good about what they can do instead of how they look and what they own, they’re happier.
Many parents worry about how exposure to technology might affect toddlers developmentally. We know our preschoolers are picking up new social andcognitive skills at a stunning pace, and we don’t want hours spent glued to an iPad to impede that. Butadolescence is an equally important period of rapid development, and too few of us are paying attention to how our teenagers’ use of technology—much more intense and intimate than a 3-year-old playing with dad’s iPhone—is affecting them. In fact, experts worry that the social media and text messages that have become so integral to teenage life are promoting anxiety and lowering self-esteem.