The way we communicate has changed drastically since the emergence of social media. You no longer have to be next to a person to have a conversation with them, you can be a thousand miles away and still connect. Studies show that we’re becoming more and more dependent on social media. Social media has become a part and parcel of young people’s lives. They use it to interact, communicate, and pass on information. Before social media, the only way we could communicate with each other was through phone calls and face-to-face conversations to build and strengthen our relationships. The best thing about technology is that it makes it easier to connect and according to statistics 83% of teenagers use social media because they feel more connected to their friends.
Social media has impacted your communication skills both positively and negatively, let’s look at the good it’s done.
Educational benefits
Social media is used to give teens advice in a more effective way and it can reach a wider audience at once than having a one-on-one conversation. YouTube is one of the most used social media platforms that people use to express themselves on various subjects. Teens also use social media sites like Facebook to work on collaboration assignments. They can discuss and share ideas, plan and delegate tasks, and upload and provide feedback on assignments.
Social media platforms like Wikipedia and YouTube are a huge source of information that can help teenagers develop and refine their different skills and even help them learn to speak different languages. Some YouTube videos can provide your teens with some objective views on various issues that can help them make better-informed decisions.
Source of support and inspiration
Social media being a method of communication can also be a way for teens to inspire and support each other. Teens spend most of their time on social media platforms chatting and sharing information. One of the ways to communicate with people on the internet is to post videos or photos. That’s why camera for teenager can be a good present for your child. They can also use their social media accounts to talk about big issues affecting their lives and supporting each other. This is a good way of bringing friends together and strengthening relationships.
Gives teenagers a voice
Sometimes teenagers feel like grownups aren’t listening to them while others are shy and don’t know how to speak out and express themselves. However, social media provides a different avenue for teenagers to express themselves in a different way. They can choose to write posts, make videos or post images and use insta likes free they can boost their views on Instagram which can help kick-start a conversation with their friends and other social media users. Although people can see what they’re doing, social media gives them the confidence and the voice to even speak offline.
Provides parents with an opportunity for open communication
Your teen’s adolescent years is a time when they’re trying to find their identity and place in society. Social media helps them develop a voice of advocacy and the reactions they see on online posts helps to give them a sense of belonging. If exposed to the right information, social media can be a very positive influence especially if your teen doesn’t have many friends. As a parent, you can follow your teen’s social media accounts which will help you understand them better and to open up communication by exposing you to their world. You can also help your teen develop a healthy relationship with technology so that they can set boundaries and expectations with how they use social media.
Enhance creativity
Social media provides users access to connect with other people, create, and share content. It encourages your teen to think outside the box and exercise their creativity when it comes to engaging with their friends and other users. Teens are able to learn how to solve problems and find innovative ways of dealing with different aspects of life. Even when you find your teen drawing silly pictures, this could be a stepping stone to helping them learn valuable design skills. They could also be spending most of their time writing blog posts, sharing videos, or taking photos, which are all good opportunities to develop and express their creativity.
Develop social and communication skills
Social media provides your teens with the chance to interact with their peers and to even make new friends in a safe environment. If your teen is having problems communicating offline, social media helps them develop social skills in a space where they have ample time to think about their actions before they act and also find people with similar interests. Your teens can engage in informative discussions and conversations about different topics that affect them. Kids who are introverts also find a safe place to invite friends and hang out without the fear of rejection.
Creates tolerance and diversity
Social media encourages teens to connect with other teens from different religions, cultures, and ethnic backgrounds to broaden their mind and teach them about tolerance. Although social media elicits different debates on its value to society and its influence on young people, teens don’t contribute to how social media has positively impacted their lives. Majority of the teens feel that social media has made their lives better and provided a positive space that makes them feel safe and supported.
Boost confidence and independence
Although it’s not healthy for your teen to depend on social media to determine their self-worth, it can help to boost their self-confidence. If your teen is shy and an introvert, interacting with people on social media can give them confidence and introduce them to different ideas and aspects of life. They can find teens with similar interests who can give them the confidence to have in-person conversations helping them overcome their shyness.
Social media can help to mold the character of young people which helps them to be more independent and confident so that they can have a more positive presence on social media. This can have a positive ripple effect on their lives.
Final word
Social media can have positive effects on your teen which can help them build their confidence, improve their skills, and help them to creatively express themselves. If you don’t see any negative impact, you should encourage your teen to use social media responsibly.