As a parent raising a pre-teen, thoughts of your child having access to social media might give you anxiety. It is a parent’s natural instinct to want to protect their child from everything, this may sometimes include social media content. So, how do you decide whether your child is ready for social media if they already have a phone?
Experts believe there is an appropriate stage for a child to have access to social media, this is according to their knowledge of how the mind of a child develops. According to the Child Mind Institute (CMI), delaying social media access in children until they mature enough helps them resist addictive appeal, and reduce emotional harm.
According to clinical psychologist Jerry Bubrick of the CMI, the best timing for a child’s development is determined not just by their age but also by their maturity, because children develop at different speeds. “I could introduce you to a really mature 13-year-old and a really immature 17-year-old,” Jerry adds.
The above-mentioned institute believes that social media readiness for pre-teens is determined by their ability to read social cues, impulsive control, and vulnerability to criticism. Dave Anderson, a clinical psychologist of CMI states that introducing social media in middle school allows parents to supervise their children’s initial exposure and navigate their online world with them. “Waiting until high school may reduce parental oversight,” claimed Dave.
According to Cardinal At Work, middle school is grades 6-8, ages 11-13.
In contrast to Dave’s belief, Dr. Mitch Prinstein, clinical psychologist and chief science officer of the American Psychological Association feels that social media access should hold off until children are in high school. He said, “I certainly don’t think anyone under 13 should be using it, unrestricted access, without any screen controls or parental monitoring, that should probably be delayed for as long as possible, until at least 16.”
It is difficult to pinpoint the appropriate age for a child to be given access to social media as all children mature differently. Still, experts advise caution and guidance from parents when that stage comes. A parent needs to monitor every consumption of the child on the internet and prohibit any content that might corrupt them.
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