This document outlines several potential dangers of social media use for minors under the age of 18. It discusses risks like cyberbullying, identity theft, distraction from schoolwork, exposure to drugs and alcohol, negative impacts on mental health, and more. The document argues that social media can expose minors to inappropriate content, waste their time, invade their privacy by collecting personal data, and influence them to seek validation online rather than from real relationships. Overall, it takes the position that social media should be illegal for minors due to these various risks and dangers.

1. W H Y S O C I A L M E D I A S H O U L D B E I L L E G A L F O R
A N Y O N E U N D E R T H E A G E O F 1 8 ?
SOCIAL MEDIA DANGERS

2. Cyber bullying and Crimes Against Children
 Use of social networks can expose individuals to
harassment or inappropriate contact from others. Unless
parents are diligent to filter the Internet content to which
their families are exposed, children could be exposed to
pornography or other inappropriate content. The Pew
Center, in their Cyber bullying 2010 report, states that 93
percent of teens aged 12 to 17 use the Internet. Of that 93
percent, 63 percent of them use the Internet daily.

3. Risks of Fraud or Identity Theft
 Whether you like it or not, the information you post on the
Internet is available to almost anyone who is clever enough
to access it. Most thieves need just a few vital pieces of
personal information to make your life a nightmare and if
they successfully steal your identity, it could cost you
dearly. A report on CNET reveals over 24 million
Americans put their personal information at risk by posting
it on public sites such as social communities.

4. Time Waster
 A Nielsen report explains that social networking can be a
big waste of time that sucks 17 percent of our Internet
time down the non-productivity drain. While it is true
that some of that time is likely spent in making and
maintaining important business, social or professional
connections, it is also true that it is easy to become
distracted and end up spending valuable time on games,
chats or other non-related activities.

5. Corporate Invasion of Privacy
 Social networking invites major corporations to invade your privacy and
sell your personal information. If Facebook and other social networking
sites don't charge their members, however, how do they make so much
money? They do it by selling the ability to specifically target
advertisements. On social networking sites, the website isn't the product,
its users are. These sites run algorithms that search for keywords, web
browsing habits, and other data stored on your computer or social
networking profile and provide you with advertisements targeted
specifically to you. Participating in applications like Farmville may also be
allowing outside vendors access to your private information.

6. Diminishes Understanding and Thoughtfulness
 “Since the inception of social networking, the quality of
conversations has dropped. I believe that people are spending
so much time online that they don’t always understand the
feeling, emotion and/or character of the person they are
talking to. When you talk to someone through a message or
even a voice, you can’t always fully understand them.” Social
networking has ruined the thoughtfulness in basically saying
hello in person.

7. Causes Distractions
 “When I have my phone out, it makes me feel like nothing else is
going on around me. I use social media as a way to feel popular,
important, and also just to fit in. My friends and I always compare
ourselves to each other, wondering who has more Facebook friends
or Twitter followers. But what really ends up happening is I begin to
talk less and end up relying on text for a conversation. Ever since I
got a Smartphone I have been distracted from everything. I watch
television less, do homework less, and even spend less time with my
friends and family.”

8. Creates a Skewed Self-Image
 “We tell ourselves lies about ourselves and develop
something we are not. We post pictures of us looking
perfect and share the good news. We never post pictures
of ourselves when our dog dies, when someone we love
leaves, and when we lose a job. We never share the bad
news that always clouds our lives. We all develop this
perfect image of ourselves and some of us actually try to
rely on this imaginative thought we have of ourselves
instead of staying true to who we are.”

9. Caring About the Wrong Things
 I used to care more about real, tangible things—like my
relationships with others. Now I find that being watered
down with cares about a virtual world—how my image
looks on social media or how many “likes” my Instagram
photo got. Give priority to what happens in the real and
visible present, not what occurs in a virtual world.
Because giving too much time to the social media can
lose touch with friends, create small gaps and holes in
close friendships/relationships.”

10. Drugs and Alcohol Influences
 Time spent on social networking increases the risk of teens smoking,
drinking and using drugs, according to a national survey of American
attitudes on substance abuse. On a typical day, 70 percent of teens ages 12
to 17 -- 17 million teenagers -- spend from a minute to hours on Facebook,
MySpace and other social networking sites, according to The National
Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.
But for this same age bracket, social-network-savvy teens are five times
more likely to use tobacco; three times more likely to use alcohol; and twice
as likely to use marijuana than teens who do not spend any of their day on
social networking sites.

11. Academics effected
 According to Larry D. Rosen, Ph.D., professor of psychology at
California State University, Dominguez Hills, and technology
researcher also says "According to studies, middle school, high
school and college students looking at Facebook at least one time
during a 15 minute study break made lower grades. In addition,
many young Facebook users show more tendencies to be
narcissistic. The new research suggests that overuse of media and
technology can negatively affect health of children and teens,
especially with psychological disorders- making users more likely to
experience anxiety and depression.

12. Validation
 We’ve always wanted to be accepted. Social media has just
exacerbated this desire in the form of likes and retweets.
Seeking validation online is a danger because it has us
relinquish our power to affirm ourselves even more. We now
look for even more external measurements to our worth.
 When we seek validation, we attempt to define who we are
online, not have online complement who we are. Let’s cut all
the validation at the roots and get back to being our true
selves.

13. Isolation
 On social media, we are in a world within a world. It’s
easy to shut ourselves off from interaction because we
believe our interaction online is enough. It’s easy to not
see people all day, but rather see them online.
 Distance yourself from this tendency to isolate. Allow
social media to push you in the world even further, not
away from it.

14. Abbreviations, Poor Grammar, and "Net-Speak"
 The instant communication of social networking sites is very
similar to that of instant messaging services. Many folks don't
want to be bothered with correct spelling or grammar, and
resort to the abbreviations and "net-speak" that can drive
others crazy. It's best to just get used to this sort of thing if
you plan on spending lots of time on these sites. For kids and
teens, however, it's important to reinforce the idea that this
type of writing is only acceptable in certain situations, such as
texting and using instant messagers.

15. Conclusion
 Social networking sites are playing very significant role in
today time; it has a direct impact on all age group people.
Though it has many cons but still these are like an effective
tool in communicating millions of people and spreading our
expressions and view worldwide. We all need a change in the
pattern of use, in order to prevent miss-happenings on these
sites. If we will be active and aware these sites will serve us
their batter and will bring some more revolution in the world
of cyber technology.