Should Internet and Social Media Be Banned at High School Campuses - Essay Example

Insert Should Internet and Social Media Be Banned at High School Campuses? Social media are means of communication among social group where they share pictures, videos, and discuss information about day-to-day events using the internet. Due to fast growth of technology, the internet is inevitable. The internet and social media are a tool that has been embraced by all; the young and the old. It is used in schools, for entertainment and in personal relationships. Moreover, most students use the internet for research and as a tool for communication. Being an instrument that is frequently accessed by teenagers, many believe that it may negatively affect them in one way, or another. However, I think strongly that given a chance to use the social media and the internet, the teenagers can improve their school performance and expand social connection. Giving in mind that the pros outweigh the cons, I think that the social media and internet should not be banned on high school campuses (Clemmitt). Keeping in mind that almost all American youths are using the internet, the parents and teachers must be on the lookout and ensure that the young stars use the social media for good and profitable reasons. Primarily, adolescents benefit more from using the social sites as compared to other people in the society. The youth uses the internet to make friends from within and all over the world. Adolescent stage is the most vital time for social development, so the sites enable them get friends online and maintain a close friendship all through via the click of the mouse. It increases their self-esteem by allowing them gain more friends and maintain friendship. Social media also allow the teenagers carry out many tasks like sending and receiving pictures, tweets, and ideas. Moreover, the teenagers can engage in raising money for donations to the less fortunate children in the society. Through sharing of creative and musical accomplishments by other teens, they can improve their talents. Through expansion of connections, the youths can be able to learn and understand other cultures. Through social media, teens get an opportunity and the right environment for friendship, romance and uplift their social status. They also get a room for a variety of video games, movies, and music (Garst). Many teachers have chosen to go online too; they use blogs as teaching tools that greatly captures student’s attention and interest. Students after class use the internet for discussion and exchanging ideas about given assignments. In research, the internet has greatly helped the students so much; they can quickly access useful materials for their research. Also, class notes can be uploaded to the internet by the teachers and pupils can access read them in the comfort of their homes thus improving their grades (Greenblatt). Young people can easily obtain more information about their health online. Exceptional health information is readily available on youth health; weight reduction, how to curb obesity, and how to reduce stress. They can understand on sexually transmitted diseases way of transmission and its signs and symptoms. Teenagers with chronic illnesses can organize supportive groups through the internet to encourage each other. The internet has been the best tool to teach adolescents about better health and on how to improve their health status. Better understanding of diseases has also been observed. Teens who feel marginalized such as lesbians, gay or disabled find online support through the social sites and groups (McKenna & Bargh). Online link to doctors has enable much youth understand different developments in their bodies that could rather not have be taught by parents. Even if the information could seem helpful, parent’s intervention is required to make sure that the sources are correct. Social network and internet have given teens more freedom to communicate with whomever they want at the time they feel like. Through cell phones, teens can discuss personal matters with other teens and share information (Lenhart, Ling, Campbell & Purcell). Even though we believe that the internet and social media is for more benefits, it also has its downfalls. Cyber bullying has been reported as the greatest problem so far, cyberbullying is defined as intentionally using the internet to spread false, upsetting information or pictures about someone. It can lead to depression, isolation and even suicide. Nevertheless, it can be stopped if teenagers work hand in hand with their parents and teachers online. Sexting is another risk; adolescents send, receive or forward sexual explicit messages, photos via the internet. Many of this images/ photos are of nude or semi-nude teenager that is distributed to friends. Teens in relationship may also be tempted to send each other nude pictures of themselves. In the case of a break up, the nude photos of either the boyfriend or the girlfriend may be circulated as a form of punishment to one partner leading to mental health and depression of the affected person. When a teen is discovered to be indulging in sexting, he/she is suspended from school or is charged with child pornography. In addition, this has reduced it largely (Clifford). Facebook depression is also a risk; this is a danger that occurs when adolescents spend most of their time on social media mainly Facebook and then exhibit a sign of depression. This in turn lead to social isolation since most of the time he/she is isolated no physical friends, no face-to-face communication, no sports; no going out with friends with could have been part of normal maturity. This depression may lead to looking for help from internet sites that could at the end lead to substance abuse or self-destructive behaviors. Online sexual solicitation is also a risk whereby one party encourages another party talking about sex even if they do not want (Ybarra). Adults are said to engage with minors online through text messages with the intention of having sex with them. Also, many teenagers have at one time met with people whom they have known each other through Facebook (Cox) Privacy has been jeopardized; teenagers tend to upload too much source of information that relates to them on the net without knowing the risk they pose to themselves. Some users can collect the information and use it in offensive ways. Their nude pictures can be used to generate a pornographic movie or magazines. It can cause an impact on a teen’s future reputation, job acceptance, or college admission. Adolescents must get detailed information about what to upload and what not to so that they cannot be the target of fraudsters or marketing companies. However, this cannot be the primary reason to ban social media since the government can enact laws to govern privacy. Above all, Pediatricians should be involved in these to educate parents on social media and the internet. They help them understand what is happening online and how they can supervise online activities using software used to monitor the internet and how they can talk to the teenagers about particular online issues. More so, parents must discuss with the teens online topics and check profiles they update. It will help ensure that teenagers upload required content (Kathleen Clarke-pearson). In conclusion, the internet and the social media have more influence that is positive than negative as thought. Only allocations of resources need done to schools and colleges to enable them adopt strategies to manage the risks and provide extensive education to the students on safe usage of the internet. Internet service providers need to develop ways to curb information stealing and enhance privacy. Schools and colleges should ensure that mental health of the students is accessed to check for risk of depression. Accurate health information must only be uploaded to the internet so that when inquired by the teenagers they can help them not destroy their health. Works cited Clemmitt, Marcia. Social Media Explosion. CQ Researcher 25 Jan. 2013: 81-104. Web. 29 Oct. 2014 Clemmitt, Marcia. Social Networking. CQ Researcher 17 Sept. 2010: 749-72. Web. 29 Oct. 2014 Garst, Kim. 4 Reasons Why Social Media should be Taught in Our School Systems. Huffington Post. 24 May 2013. Web. 28 Oct. 2014. Greenblatt, Alan. Impact of the Internet on Thinking. CQ Researcher 24 Sept. 2010: 773-96. Web. 29 Oct. 2014. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-garst/4-reasons-why-social-medi_b_3327957.html http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/127/4/800.full http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704025304575284973472694334?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052748704025304575284973472694334.html OKeeffe, Gwenn, and Kathleen Clarke-Pearson. "The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families." Pediatrics. 127.4 (2011): 800-804. Web. 28 Oct. 2014. Shirky, Clay. Does the Internet Make You Smarter? Wall Street Journal. 4 Jun 2010. Web. 28 Oct. 2014. Read More