In this era of the internet, it is difficult to find anyone without social media accounts including children. However, a US mother achieved to keep her son off social media until he turned 18 by promising him money.
Six years ago, Lorna Klefsaas from Minnesota challenged her son Sivert to not be on social media until he turns 18 and offered $1800. Believe it or not, the boy kept his words. Lorna did so as she has seen how much her teenage daughter struggled with social media when she was growing up.
Lorna said that her daughter goes so possessed with the social media and it has affected not only her temper but her friendships too. She told that her daughter now has a better relationship with social media but she was trying to protect her son from the similar experience with the challenge.
Lorna said she called it the “18 for 18 challenges” and the clue came from a story she’d heard on the radio about a mother doing the same thing until her child turned 16.
Lorna said that being 12, Sivert had no idea of a concept of money but he agreed to the condition and kept his commitment. She added that it was the best money she has ever paid, particularly after the suffering with her daughter.
Sivert said that his friends generally kept him up to date on what was going viral and who posted what on social media. He further said that it was hard to feel out of the loop at times but he accept as true not having social media gave him more time to emphasis on school and sporting.
A 2019 study found that youths that spent more time on social media were to be expected to see negative mental health bearings.
The study found that teenagers who spent the most time on social media were expected to internalize difficulties which can manifest in things like social withdrawal, difficulty coping with nervousness or unhappiness.
Study’s chief author said that we cannot determine that social media causes mental health difficulties but we do think that less time on social media may be better for teens’ well-being.
The chief author further said that we need to find a healthier way to equilibrium the benefits of social media with possible negative health consequences. She recommended that setting sensible limits, refining the design of social media platforms and concentrating interference on media literacy are all means in which we can possibly find this equilibrium.
A psychologist has also agreed to the author’s outlook and said the more time kids spend on social media, it is more possible they are to sense depressed, to be intimidated and to involve in self-harming actions and to struggle with subjects of self-confidence.
