14/07/2026
๐๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ | ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ ๐ก๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
Almost any teenager you see right now has a social media account, given that we are living in the digital era. According to the National Library of Medicine, social media use by youth is nearly universal. Up to 95% of youth ages 13-17 report using a social media platform, with more than a third saying they use social media โalmost constantly.โ We use this as a tool to connect, entertain, inform, and express ourselves. But because of the easy access, almost anyone can post anything. For the safety of kids, some have proposed banning social media for teens under 16. While protecting young people is important, banning social media is not the best solution.
Supporters would argue that the ban is necessary because of the violence social media is showing, which might influence some teens to engage in violent behavior. However, as stated by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, โRather than being initiators or causes of violent behaviors, the Internet and social media specifically can be facilitators within wider processes of violent radicalization.โ Stating that social media does have a correlation, but it is not the enabler.
A study published by PubMed Central (PMC) in Prince Georgeโs County, Maryland, shows that about 1.4% of every violent crime in this US county reveals that social media can play a role in some violent incidents.
Not only is there a low percentage, but the study only examined the involvement of social media in these violent crimes. It does not prove that social media was the root cause of those crimes. Violence is influenced by many factors such as mental health problems, family issues, poverty, etc.
Banning social media, which is the tool almost all teenagers use to get their daily news, entertainment, communication, and educational resources, would only limit an important source of information and a way to communicate. Instead of banning social media, we should strengthen our media and information literacy (MIL) in today's digital world. People are constantly bombarded with new information online, but not all of it is accurate. MIL equips an individual with the skills on how to properly analyze, evaluate, create, and share information responsibly. By strengthening these abilities, teenagers will become better at recognizing misinformation and critical thinking.
However, schools cannot do this alone. Parents also play an equally essential role, as their children's primary role models. By providing supervision, advice, and support, parents can guide their children in using social media responsibly, helping them understand both its benefits and its risks.
Additionally, we should also be vigilant about every student's mental health, not only for the school but also for the parents. Check their mental health, ask them if they are doing well, if they have any problems, and listen to their concerns, considering that good mental health helps children understand their emotions, think critically, and make responsible choices.
Ultimately, concerns about the negative effects of social media are valid. Banning it for teenagers under the age of 16 just isnโt the most effective solution. Research shows that social media is just a contributing factor, not the cause. Instead of banning it completely, we should focus on education through media literacy, parental guidance, and mental health awareness. At the end of the day, social media is just a tool, and like any other tool, its impact depends not on its existence, but on how responsibly we choose to use it.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ โ ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐
๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ฅ
๐๏ธ: Geyd Carlo Olmillo
๐ป: Khyle Cidreck Tumulak
๐จ: Mystie Gazette Legaspe
๐ผ๏ธ: Precious Rupal
