It’s time for change. Real change. In Foley (Alabama), things got very close to home… Way too close. Our own high school was locked down for a possible active shooter! We’ve had similar incidents before, but the rumor mill on social media today had many of us parents scared beyond belief. People had specific details online like how many shooters, how many injuries, deaths, etc. and it was all a scam. Fake news. Circulated by kids.
Who thinks this kind of stuff is funny? I am absolutely disgusted by the behavior of many children on social media. As a society we’ve made rules concerning minor children. They cannot vote, cannot smoke, cannot drink, cannot buy medication, cannot sign, legal contracts, cannot gamble, cannot serve on a jury, cannot enter the military, cannot purchase firearms and cannot make their own medical decisions (most states). Minors cannot get a tattoo, piercing or get married without parental consent. So why can’t we have an age limit on social media?
We are witnessing a significant precedent being in Georgia, where a parent is being being held accountable for something his child has done. I think the same thing should be done online. It is reckless and irresponsible to allow a minor child to have access, usually unlimited access, to millions of complete strangers.
How many times do we have to be told by mental health professionals that there are major concerns that cannot be ignored? Excessive social media use can contribute to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and inappropriate content. A child under 18 is influence to compare themselves to others. They are also exposed to cyberbullying. My heart cannot handle any more funerals for teenagers and preteens who have been the target of online bullies and predators. 
Why would a parent want their child to be exposed to inappropriate content? I can already hear some people offering excuses. They will argue that they monitor the kids phones. They will say that they are friends with all of their kids, friends. But let’s be honest, kids are a whole lot smarter than us as parents! They know ways around our security features. Social media platforms often contain violent, sexual, or harmful content that is not suitable for younger audiences and can negatively affect their development.
Have you read the fine print? Every social media platform has a long list of privacy risks. Children may not fully understand the implications of sharing personal information online, making them vulnerable to identity theft, exploitation, and/or predators. I can tell you literally dozens of stories. Parents and children that have had their worst nightmares come true. If the world sees it as a danger, then we as parents (especially Christian parents) need to listen.
I realize this is going to step on some toes, but it has to be said… when you shove a device in front of your children’s faces there are ramifications that will last a lifetime. Addiction is high. It becomes their pacifier. I realize that some parents work on time management and set limits. But I have personally watched many parents that have minutes, not hours, of face-to-face with their children during the week. Social media can be highly addictive, leading to poor time management, distractions from schoolwork, and reduced engagement in offline activities like physical exercise.
Finally, the negative impact on social skills actually impacts ALL of society. We are raising a generation of zombie children addicted to screens. Spending too much time online can limit real-life social interactions, hindering the development of healthy communication and relationship-building skills. we should want our children to have healthy and meaningful relationships. That cannot happen if all of their friends are just “online” friends.
In my opinion, if a child does something inappropriate online, i.e. making threats or bullying, the parent should be held accountable! We need to pass real legislation that monitors all Internet access. Children under 18 years old do not need social media. Period.
You are loved.
Ray Reynolds, PhD
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