The Role of Social Media Influence on the Youth - Essay Example

A huge number of children who are in their early teenage life are using social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and various other social networking tools. The AACAP states that “60% of 13 to 17 years old have at least one profile on a social networking site” (Aacap, 1). Social networking websites have several features and one of the most important features is news and information. The information available on these websites includes academic-related information as well as news regarding current events (Strader, 98). When children access these features they end up developing insight regarding what is happening in the world around them. This feature even helps them in learning more than what is offered at schools.

Social media is even helping children develop and sustain social relationships. Social media such as Facebook allows children to communicate online with other individuals including children from their schools. O'Keeffe states that “social media allow teens to accomplish various tasks including staying connected with friends” (O'Keeffe, 1). This helps children in remaining in constant contact with friends at all times. This increase in time spent with friends even leads to increasing in the sustaining of relationships with individuals who exist in the virtual as well as the physical world.

Social media is even helping children in keeping themselves entertained. Social media such as YouTube allows children to share pictures, videos, music, and projects with other social media users (Harlen, 122). YouTube helps children in finding their favorite songs and movies and children access these entertaining elements to keep themselves busy and entertained. Children even share their videos and songs over YouTube to express themselves in front of other social media users. O'Keeffe states that social media helps in the “enhancement of individual and collective creativity through development and sharing of artistic and musical endeavors” (O'Keeffe, 1).

There are various roles that social media plays in the lives of children in today’s world. One of these roles is the role of an educator as social media is providing children with more information than what is being offered to them at schools. It even plays the role of helping children develop social relationships with online and offline friends. Social media even plays the role of an entertainer and allows children to share their creative videos with others.