"It’s not just your teens who are on social media anymore. Younger kids are getting on those apps, and some parents aren’t confident that their children can stay safe online."

"Many parents also had concerns about their child’s abilities to safely navigate social media apps. Some worried their child might share private information without realizing it, encounter sexual predators, see mature images or videos, or not be able to discern what information was true or false. Nearly 50% of parents with social media-using kids weren’t confident that their child would be able to tell whether another user was an adult or kid, which can be difficult to discern, according to the report."

https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/18/health/children-social-media-apps-use-poll-wellness/index.html

"Internet and social media addictions continue to grow as our dependence on technology increases. It’s estimated that over 210 million people suffer from internet and social media addiction. "

"If you’re able to be objective, transparent and honest with yourself, you’ll be able to ascertain whether you’re just flirting with social media or may have developed an addiction. If you don’t have the willpower to step away at all or even reduce the amount of time that you’re devoting to social media daily, you may want to seek some professional help"

https://community.thriveglobal.com/avoiding-the-temptations-and-traps-of-social-media/

"Research has shown that parents underestimate the likelihood that their child might engage in online conversation with people they do not know."

"Therefore, it is critical that parents promote online safety with their children from an early age, monitor children’s Internet use, and use tools, such as parental control software, to maintain awareness of their child’s online activities. Pediatricians should consider asking appropriate questions to explore this possibility and to educate youth about protecting themselves from exploitation."

https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/138/5/e20162593/60349/Children-and-Adolescents-and-Digital-Media

"The complete dominance of the smartphone among teens has had ripple effects across every area of their lives, from their social interactions to their mental health"

"Benefits of social media use include enhancing friendships and decreasing loneliness. But there is also evidence that overuse has a negative impact on self-esteem and satisfaction with their lives. And this social media use is also linked to an increase in mental health problems, including anxiety, depression and suicidality."

https://childmind.org/awareness-campaigns/childrens-mental-health-report/2017-childrens-mental-health-report/smartphones-social-media/