There are millions of teenagers using social media every day. Although some people think social media is a positive thing, many are worried about the negative influences it can have on young people.
Many teenagers agree that social media helps them stay connected to their friends and make new friends from around the world. More and more teenagers are willing to share their life and thoughts online. Thanks to advances in technology, how teenagers make friends and communicate with each other has changed greatly.
However, social media also has many disadvantages, one of which is that some parents believe social media makes it harder for families to spend time together. They say that things on the Net seem super appealing, and that their kids can't take their eyes off the screen. As a result, teenagers pay no attention to the rest of their family.
Another serious problem is that social media makes bullies (霸凌者) easier to reach their goals. A great many people have experienced cyberbullying—bullying that takes place online. So how can teenagers protect themselves if the cyberbullying has taken place? Gwen Taylor, an expert from a charity, which works to end online bullying, suggests, "The first thing to do is to tell a trusted adult about what is going on. " "If someone posts content that frightens you, you can report it to the social media platform. You'd better keep the screenshot (屏幕截图) of the behavior because this will help you to report it and help others to help you," says Taylor.
Perhaps the more effective way is to try to be a good digital citizen. How you act online is just as important as how others treat you. Good digital citizens use online spaces positively, which means treating everybody online with kindness and respect. Respect other people's feelings and don't be mean (刻薄的). "If you have shared something you shouldn't have, it's never too late to say sorry and fix the situation—such as taking the post down. If you notice somebody is being cyberbullied, consider reporting it and getting in touch with the person being treated badly to make sure he is OK," Taylor advises.