SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES AND CELL PHONES

How young is too young for Facebook and Cell Phones: Effects of Social Networking Sites and Cell Phones on Children

[Name of College]

Abstract

This study will attempt to explore the effects of social networking sites and cell phones on children. Effects have been discussed in this study from two different perspectives one is social and other is medical. However, from the discussion it has been found that no particular age can be fixed for children by their parents for using social networking sites or cell phones, however parents should monitor the activities of their children if they have to let them use social networking site or cell phone, otherwise it has been suggested that parents should allow their children to use these technologies when they reach to high school, but with strict monitoring.

How young is too young for Facebook and Cell Phones: Effects of Social Networking Sites and Cell Phones on Children

Introduction

With increasing access to the Internet and cell phones over the last few years, the online younger population has received a massive growth worldwide. People can find almost any age group on the internet, whose members are active participants every day in various networks. Even children at present spent most of their time using internet or mobile phones, and in some cases without the consent of their parents.

According to the a research carried out by Crawford (1992), a list of internet access from different age groups is headed by a group of 12 to 17 and in fact, most of the time when kids are online, they spend time on online games, social networks and some other eye catching illustrations. This is a general tendency to involve children in high-dimensional illustrations. On the other hand, after the internet children are now willing to possess cell phones not to keep in touch with their friends or family but for several other purposes which will be discussed in this paper. This study will attempt to explore the effects of social networking sites and cell phones on children by analyzing several factors including, what is the appropriate age for children to use social networking sites or cellular phones and why till a certain age (possibly by 18) children should not be allowed to use social networks and cell phones. (Forman, 2002)

Social Networks and Children

More than the Internet, social networks are taking over the minds of people especially children. While there are children whose lives revolve around real experiences and emotional encounters irreplaceable moments but there are also a large number of children who spend more time exchanging information and creating new virtual friends, fueling a range of experiences that most are part of a fantasy, an illusion or an ideal world, which sometimes is very far from the real world. (Lessig, 1999)

Unknown friends and chat with strangers, all this seems to be the day to day activity for many children and to spend an hour on a computer is not enough for them. Some may last for days and nights but enough has been ...