Social media exposes preteens to bullying, harmful content, and dangerous trends which makes it unsafe for their age. While it might seem like a fun way to connect with friends or share pictures, there are serious dangers that come with using social media at such a young age.
One of the largest concerns is cyberbullying, when people of any age send hurtful messages over and over again, harassing kids. Some bullies might even go further and make threats to scare their victims by saying that they will harm them. Others embarrass people by spreading lies or sharing private information to humiliate them.
Child psychologist Kate Eshleman, PsyD, said, “The challenge to cyberbullying is that it’s always there, making it much harder to walk away from the negative interactions. It can also be spread much further, much more rapidly, resulting in negative attention being seen and heard far beyond one’s close social circle.”
Teens in general are prone to getting cyberbullied, but especially preteens. Bullying can damage preteens’ self esteem and cause lasting emotional pain. In a Pew Research Center survey, half of teens think criminal charges or permanent bans for users who bully or harass others would help.
Social media can expose kids to upsetting or inappropriate content. Mean comments from strangers or posts with sexual or violent images are a few examples. These types of content can make preteens feel upset, scared, or uncomfortable. Aggressive and harsh language often comes with violent or inappropriate images, which adds to the negative impact on preteens.
Dangerous viral trends are another important reason to keep preteens off social media. Occasionally kids try risky challenges they see online. It could be stunts that lead to injuries, getting hospitalized, or even in extreme cases death. Getting arrested is another potential consequence of immature trends that involve breaking the law, as some of these trends may include illegal activities.
The reasoning behind why preteens engage in dangerous and immature trends is well explained by Dr. Eshleman, who said, “Kids don’t have the cognitive and executive functioning to think through harmful situations and why those might be a bad idea.”
Parents, teachers, and school administrators hold the power to protect kids from the stress and risks of social media. Kids deserve a joyful childhood that is not focused on pressures they’re not ready to handle. There will be plenty of time for social media when they’re older and better prepared.
Social Media is Dangerous for Preteens
By Boro Krstic ‘26
Social media exposes preteens to bullying, harmful content, and dangerous trends which makes it unsafe for their age. While it might seem like a fun way to connect with friends or share pictures, there are serious dangers that come with using social media at such a young age.
One of the largest concerns is cyberbullying, when people of any age send hurtful messages over and over again, harassing kids. Some bullies might even go further and make threats to scare their victims by saying that they will harm them. Others embarrass people by spreading lies or sharing private information to humiliate them.
Child psychologist Kate Eshleman, PsyD, said, “The challenge to cyberbullying is that it’s always there, making it much harder to walk away from the negative interactions. It can also be spread much further, much more rapidly, resulting in negative attention being seen and heard far beyond one’s close social circle.”
Teens in general are prone to getting cyberbullied, but especially preteens. Bullying can damage preteens’ self esteem and cause lasting emotional pain. In a Pew Research Center survey, half of teens think criminal charges or permanent bans for users who bully or harass others would help.
Social media can expose kids to upsetting or inappropriate content. Mean comments from strangers or posts with sexual or violent images are a few examples. These types of content can make preteens feel upset, scared, or uncomfortable. Aggressive and harsh language often comes with violent or inappropriate images, which adds to the negative impact on preteens.
Dangerous viral trends are another important reason to keep preteens off social media. Occasionally kids try risky challenges they see online. It could be stunts that lead to injuries, getting hospitalized, or even in extreme cases death. Getting arrested is another potential consequence of immature trends that involve breaking the law, as some of these trends may include illegal activities.
The reasoning behind why preteens engage in dangerous and immature trends is well explained by Dr. Eshleman, who said, “Kids don’t have the cognitive and executive functioning to think through harmful situations and why those might be a bad idea.”
Parents, teachers, and school administrators hold the power to protect kids from the stress and risks of social media. Kids deserve a joyful childhood that is not focused on pressures they’re not ready to handle. There will be plenty of time for social media when they’re older and better prepared.
Sources
Pew Research Center Surveys
Cover Shot Source