In a world so consumed with fast paced, ever changing circumstances all around us, our biggest concern is always what's happening next. When will the next big story break, what are our favorite celebrities up to, what do we need to do to keep up? With so much information pouring in around us, and this influx of information feeling so normal, it is easy to miss problems happening all around us. It is too easy to avoid all the troubles of daily life and consume ourselves with the instant pleasures.
Something we have become nearly blind to is the age kids are now accessing social media sites, and what kind of impact that is having on their developmental skills. Elementary students are more frequently using social media sites, and growing up with social media consuming the lives of those around them. As bad as addiction to anything is for adults, it can be just as bad, if not worse for a young child.
People tend to self-diagnose themselves with an "addictive personality" from time to time. But think of how exentuated that can become if your first addiction starts at age 7. Imagine your whole life you have grown up with something that you seemingly can't live without. That is the reality of many of today's children and even young adults. Social media has been present in many of their lives as far back as they can remember. It is tied into their physical being and their personality. A large part of their existence exists only online. This is disturbing, especially when this new generation is transforming into the adults of the world. It makes you wonder what kind of real-life social skills they will have, and what kind of abilities will they have in the workplace. Will they command a new empire of online business? Will they lead the charge in advancing society to a digital, globally connected sort of utopia? Or will they take a much darker path, one that lacks productivity and passion? Will social media claim the young minds of those who are hopelessly addicted, leaving them with little to no education, social skills, or real world experience? Only time will tell. But the generations who know no life without the presence of social media are quickly becoming more prevelant in the adult society. So time may not be so far away.
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