Five ways social media can be a force for good in the lives of kids and teens

Social media platforms take up nearly two hours of our time every day, according to research firm GlobalWebIndex. (Marcel De Grijs/Dreamstime/TNS)

From sexting to cyberbullying to FOMO (fear of missing out), social media sure has its share of negatives. But, if it's all bad, how did 2,000 students protest their school system's budget cuts? 

How are teens leading the charge against cyberbullying? How did they organise a national school walkout day to protest gun laws? Easy: savvy use of social media. 

For a few years now, many teens have been saying that social media – despite its flaws – is mostly positive. And new research is shedding light on the good things that can happen when kids connect, share, and learn online. 

As kids begin to use tools such as Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and even YouTube in earnest, they’re learning the responsibility that comes with the power to broadcast to the world. You can help nurture the positive aspects by accepting how important social media is for kids and helping them find ways for it to add real value to their lives. For inspiration, here are some of the benefits of your kid being social media-savvy: 

It lets them do good. Twitter, Facebook, and other large social networks expose kids to important issues and people from all over the world. Kids realise they have a voice they didn’t have before and are doing everything from crowdfunding social justice projects to anonymously Tweeting positive thoughts. 

It strengthens friendships. Studies, including Common Sense Media’s “Social Media, Social Life: How Teens View Their Digital Lives” and the Pew Research Centre’s “Teens, Technology and Friendships” show that social media helps teens make friends and keep them. 

It can offer a sense of belonging. While heavy social media use can isolate kids, a study conducted by Griffith University and the University of Queensland in Australia found that although American teens have fewer friends than their historical counterparts, they are less lonely than teens in past decades. They report feeling less isolated and have actually become more socially adept as well, partly due to an increase in technology use. 

It provides genuine support. Online acceptance – whether a kid is interested in an unusual subject that isn't considered “cool” or is grappling with sexual identity – can validate a marginalised kid. Suicidal teens can even get immediate access to quality support online. One example occurred on a Minecraft forum on Reddit when an entire online community used voice-conferencing software to talk a teen out of his decision to commit suicide. 

It helps them express themselves. The popularity of fan fiction (original stories based on existing material that people write and upload online) proves how strong the desire for self-expression is. Both producers and performers can satisfy this need through social media. 

Digital technology allows kids to share their work with a wider audience and even collaborate with far-flung partners (an essential 21st-century skill). If they’re really serious, social media can provide essential feedback for kids to hone their craft. — Common Sense Media/Tribune News Service