The Effect of Social Media on Children and Adolescents In today's society, a lot of progress has been made throughout the universe. However, what seems to stand out in particular is the use of social media. Social media has both positive and negative effects on society. This advancement has led to a difference in communicating to everyone, reconnecting with others or even informing the public nationwide through broadcast news such as news or talk shows. However, is social media safe to use? Social media has a great impact on everyone in society. While allowing your children or teenagers to engage in social media, some things to consider are the risks of young people using social media, what age is too young, and also how social media is useful in some cases. Children now participate in cyberbullying and even find themselves involved in bad habits, such as sexting (Schurgin O'Keefe). According to a recent survey, over 22% of teens access their social media more than ten times a day (Schurgin O'Keefe). Not everything is bad about social media, but there are precautions that need to be taken when young people are involved. The disadvantages of social media can be very risky, especially when the youth of this society take part in it. Children and teenagers are now notorious for inappropriate content on social media sites or simply not understanding the concepts of privacy. One national issue that has been addressed is the act of cyberbullying. This action often leads to harmful circumstances such as suicide attempts, some of which are successful. In just one US state, 1,491 high school students considered “cyberbullies” have been linked to suicide attempts, and approximately 4,693 students have been rel...... middle of paper ......r. (2013). The brief history of social media. Retrieved from http://www.uncp.edu/home/acurtis/NewMedia/SocialMedia/SocialMediaHistory.htmlHrastinksi, S., & Aghaee, N.M. (2012). How do college students use social media to support their studies? an exploratory interview study. Education and Information Technologies, 17(4), 451-464. doi: 10.1007/s10639-011-9169-5Katzman, D. (2010). Sexting: Keeping Teens Safe and Responsible in a Technologically Savvy World. Pediatrics and Child Health, 15(1), 41-42. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2827324/Schurgin O'Keefe, M.D., G., & Clarke-Pearson, M.D., K. (2011). The impact of social media on children, adolescents and families. (4 ed., vol. 127, pp. 800-804). Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics. Retrieved from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/127/4/800.full