Should Kids Be Banned From Facebook?
Facebook is one of the most popular social media sites among children. As of 2010, about 7.5 million kids younger than 13 years of age were on Facebook, according to "Consumer Reports Magazine." Facebook allows kids to communicate in many ways, including status updates, comments, chatting and sharing photos. Nevertheless, the risks kids face make it worth considering whether to ban them from the site. Kids' Facebook use can affect their security, health, writing skills and self-esteem.
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Vulnerability
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A kid̵7;s brain is in a vulnerable state because it is still developing. Coupled with lack of life experience, kids are susceptible to attack from online bullies and hackers. Phishing frauds lure children to websites with pornographic content or dupe them to make vain purchases, according to Doug Fodeman and Marje Monroe reporting for the National Association for Independent Schools. Scammers also use information acquired from duping kids to access critical information such as credit card numbers, Fodeman and Monroe add.
Health Problems
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Children who use Facebook are more likely to have poor health. According to a 2011 report on the American Psychological Association's website, children who use Facebook for the better part of the day are more likely to experience depression, anxiety or fall ill when compared to those who use Facebook sparingly. Facebook might also promote poorer eating habits and less exercise for children, according to the report.
Writing Skills
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Kids shorten words when communicating online to increase speed and fit with the trend among most social media users, of which Facebook has a significant presence. Kids abbreviate or shorten words into forms such as ̶0;gr8̶1; for "great" and ̶0;thx̶1; for "thanks." Kids also engage little in critical thinking while using Facebook because most of their status updates are based on real-life events, according to Pew Internet. Additionally, kids mostly use informal language on Facebook. This might lead to decline in formal language competence.
Self-Esteem
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In a research based on self-awareness theory, viewing and editing a personal Facebook profile is more likely to boost self-esteem, according to a 2012 article at PsychologyToday.com. In contrast, researchers Amanda Forrest and Joanne Wood found that even though people with low self-esteem might derive a sense of security from posting on Facebook, their post might do more harm than good, according to the PsychologyToday.com article. For instance, people might reinforce negativity when they post self-critical messages and do not get assuring responses.
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