Kids and teens are really into social media challenges. They do it to get noticed and approved by their friends. Some challenges are cool and bring people together, but some can be really risky and even dangerous. If you're a parent, it's super important to know about these dangerous challenges to keep your child safe.
Attraction of Social Media Challenges
Social media challenges really catch the interest of kids and teens. They want to be part of something big and get excited about doing things that could become popular online. The cheers and approval they get from friends and their online community motivate them to try out extraordinary tasks.
When something becomes a hit on social media, it usually brings short-lived fame and popularity. Other social media users contribute to the appeal of taking on challenges by liking, commenting, and sharing. Unfortunately, the amount of attention a person gets on social media has turned into a measure of their success or popularity. Despite the possible consequences, kids and teens are willing to take risks to enhance their online presence and self-esteem on social media.
Risks of Social Media Challenges
Not every online challenge is bad. Actually, some, like the "Ice Bucket Challenge" from 2015, can make people more aware of global problems—like the ASL disease. However, remember, even the Ice Bucket Challenge had some risks.
On the flip side, there are risky trends on social media that can be harmful to kids and teens. A few online challenges may lead to serious and lasting effects on mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Let's explore the psychological and physical impacts of these challenges.
Effect on Thoughts and Feelings
The stress of fitting into social media trends can make kids feel like they're not good enough, anxious, and not confident about themselves. Even if they're not comfortable or know it might be risky, they might still feel pressured to join these trends.
These challenges can make kids feel like they're competing with each other. They might feel the need to do better than their friends, leading to too much stress and rivalry. Always wanting approval and attention can hurt their mental health, making them feel upset and unsure about themselves.
One internet challenge that had serious effects on mental health was the "Momo Challenge." It had a weird cartoon character named Momo in videos, asking kids to do harmful things. Some say Momo was never in a kids' show, but it turned out to be a made-up scare that people spread on social media. This scared many parents enough to stop their kids from watching online children's shows for some time.
Dangers You Can See
The Physical Risks
Apart from the impact on your thoughts and feelings, risky social media challenges can also put kids and teens in real physical danger. Some challenges make them do things that can cause serious injuries, permanent harm, or even death.
For example, take the "Tide Pod Challenge." In this one, participants eat laundry detergent pods, which can result in poisoning, burns, and damage to the digestive system. Another risky game is "The Choking Game," where people try to feel a sense of euphoria by cutting off oxygen. This game can lead to brain damage, seizures, and even death. Then there's the "Salt and Ice Challenge," where participants expose their skin to salt and ice, leading to severe burns and skin damage.
Making Social Media Safer for Your Child
You have the power to make social media safer for your kids and prevent them from trying risky online challenges. Check out our tips:
Building Open Communication
Let's detox from those tricky social media challenges at home. Creating a safe and open space for talking is key. Encourage your child to share their online experiences, challenges, or trends they encounter. Listen without judging, and have meaningful talks about the risks and consequences of joining these challenges.
Setting Clear Rules
To steer clear of harmful social media trends, it's crucial to set straightforward rules about using social media and taking part in challenges. Lay down age-appropriate guidelines, talk about potential risks, and make sure your kids grasp the importance of staying safe. If needed, limit their access to certain platforms or activities, and explain why you're doing it.
Monitoring Your Child's Online Moves
Keep an eye on what your child does on social media. You don't have to take it away or ban them from safe internet activities. Just know the platforms they're into, the stuff they check out, and the challenges they might encounter. Follow them on social media, check their profiles regularly, and stay updated on the latest trends. Also, teach them the dos and don'ts of social media.
Steering Clear of Troublesome Social Media Trends
While some online challenges can be good for promoting causes or grabbing attention for a public matter, most kids join in for the excitement or to be noticed. It could be because they want to do something extraordinary fear of missing out or peer pressure. But in the end, it can stress them mentally and emotionally and even put their physical health at risk with risky tasks.
As parents, there's much we can do to lessen the impact of social media on our kids. Talk to them, remind them of the consequences of online challenges, and keep an eye on their social media activities.