Social media is dangerous. Kids are exposed to inappropriate content, and it is really alarmant. Harmful content on social media is going wild. Besides this,  normally this theme is not spoken among teens, which can lead to misinformation about the topic. Because of this, kids may talk to one another, and get information for people who know less than them.  As stated by Journal of Adolescence Health Kids who see inappropriate content, which is not good for their development can lead to self-harm, depression and even suicide. In addition, in the opinion of Cleveland Clinic, 46% of teens of 13 to 17 years reported that social media made them feel worse about their bodies.

The Internet is a wonderful place, however you may encounter inappropriate content.  A big quantity of U.S teens have been bullied or harassed on the internet, it is a shame that this happens. According to Pew research center 46% of the U.S teens have been cyberbullied, 32% of them say they were called offensive names, 22% said false rumors about them were spread, a smaller percentage said they received images they did not ask for, 15% were asked were they are, what they are doing or who they are with, one tenth said people talked about their physical appearance and 7% said that they had explicit images of them showed without consent. These events sometimes pass by without any punishments, and this shouldn't be happening, because it has a harmful effect on people’s mental health.

Because of this inappropriate content, kids may commit things that put their physical integrity at risk.  Nowadays it is almost normal for young people to face inappropriate content on social media. It may be by accident or, even sometimes on purpose. As claimed by eSafetycommissioner “A high proportion of young people aged 12 to 17 in Australia have encountered inappropriate or hateful content online”  57% of them Already saw real violence that was disturbing, one third say they have see videos promoting terrorism and almost  ½ from kids aged from 9 to 16 have are regularly exposed to sexual images. This is really bad, because it is not the proper content for the children’s development. In the last decade, there are more and more people committing self-harm, being depressed and suiciding, and it is really worrying. Based on Journal of adolescence health “ Smartphones and social media have been labeled by some as a “likely culprit” of the drop-off in well-being among young people”  Co-construction theory suggests that what adolescents share on the internet often mirrors their real-life thoughts and actions. Therefore, teens who frequently post self-harm content online may also be at higher risk of engaging in those behaviors in real life. If this theory is correct, we should keep an eye out for this type of content, since people out of the screen have a life too, and maybe they are not feeling well, it would be a good idea to be there for that person if they need to.

Even though this type of content is bad, it is difficult to limit kids' screens. Social media makes lifes easier, but, although it has lots of benefits, there are negative effects. Limiting or cutting back your child’s time on the internet isn’t always easy, since they use it to have fun, communicate with others,but sometimes it gets excessive and we need to cut or limit it. In the words of Cleveland Clinic “Too much screen time and unrealistic expectations and perceptions can lead to an increased risk of anxiety and depression” . Most sites require the user to be at least 13 years old to use it, however, almost 40% of kids from 8 to 12 use social media, and 95 % of people between the ages of 13 to 17 use social media. Those apps recommend an age for some reason ,if you trick the system , you end up tricking yourself. The internet is really good, but not everything can be perfect, there are some negative points which are really harmful for the kid’s health. According to NSPCC some negative points are that the kid may end up too focused on likes and streaks they can reach, an unrealistic sense of body image, which means that the kid may end up under pressure to have the “perfect” or “ideal” body. Disturbing content is really bad for a teen's mental health, and they should try not to face it to the maximum. As stated by The Australian parenting website social media can pose risks to their mental health by  facing many online risks. They might see violent or sexual content and share personal information or embarrassing photos. Cyberbullying and data breaches are common, and advertisers may target them using personal data. They can also feel pressured to stay active online, which can lead to stress. Sometimes those personal information and embarrassing photos that are breached into public can lead to bigger mental problems.

Even if the internet is wonderful, we face inappropriate content, so we need to use it safely. The internet is a wonderful but dangerous place, we can and should protect ourselves while on it. It is really important to know how to use social media as an ally and in order to do this, you need to know how to use it safely. In the opinion of CISA “Social networking sites, sometimes referred to as "friend-of-a-friend" sites, build upon the concept of traditional social networks where you are connected to new people through people you already know.” To protect yourself you should Be careful what you share on social media—avoid posting personal details like your location, schedule, or home address. Assume everything you post can be seen by anyone, even if your account is private or you later delete it. Limit who can contact or follow you, and be cautious when interacting with strangers online. Regularly check and update your privacy settings to control who sees your posts and information. Also, watch out for third-party apps connected to your account, as they may access and misuse your data. Sharing information on-line is really risky, because maybe, even without wanting, people may share personal information through their posts.

Not only can you face bad things on-line, there might be people who make the matter worse. It is needed to know that there are people who use social media for bad things, and people should be aware of this and take care of themselves. Based on RAINN “Not everyone uses social media for good. Sometimes people use technology to hurt another person”. Some people misuse the internet by bullying or interacting with others in unwanted or non-consensual ways. They might insult someone’s character or share private details without permission. This kind of behavior can make others feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or even scared. Everyone deserves to feel respected online. Always think before you post or engage with others. If you are not feeling well, there are places in the internet which can help you, if someone is being mean with you on-line, you can block them, and this might solve the problem.Everything someone does online is being watched, plus, sometimes even shared with others, we need to know how to protect our data. As claimed by NCSC Social media platforms offer privacy tools, use them to control who sees your information. Always turn on 2-step verification (2SV) to add extra security to your accounts. Be careful about your digital footprint; think before you post, and make sure only trusted people can see your content. Watch out for fake or hacked accounts, even if they look real—verify before you trust. If something seems off, report it and check with the person using another method.

Think social media is harmless? Think again. Many kids are exposed to disturbing content, cyberbullying, besides unrealistic body standards online. These risks can seriously affect their mental health, consequently, they can lead to anxiety, depression, and even self-harm. The problem is often ignored or not talked about among teens, which leads to misinformation. In the opinion of Cleveland Clinic While social media has its good sides, it’s essential for kids to learn how to use it safely and protect their privacy. The internet is powerful, but not always safe!