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Childhood in the digital age is under threat. Social media has evolved to become a powerful space shaping the development, behaviors, perceptions, emotions and worldviews of children and adolescents. However, social media is also increasingly becoming a digital Pandora’s box, promising entertaining spaces for self-expression, social connections and support, while a darker space unfolds, leading to harrowing effects for young users.
Child development experts are sounding the alarm about children and adolescents navigating these uncharted digital spaces without supervision or guidance. Left unsupervised, they become susceptible to many risks.
A 2025 study titled “The Impact of Social Media and Technology on Child and Adolescent Mental Health” explains how the use of social media affects brain development, behavior and emotional well-being. Social media use has been linked to increased loneliness and depression, low self-esteem and social anxiety among children and adolescents.
Due to the nature of engagement on social media platforms, children and adolescents are also prone to experimenting with impulsive behaviors and engaging in addictive behaviors. Critically, an avalanche of harmful content exists within social media platforms, often rapidly disseminated, exposing children and adolescents to dangerous behaviors and messages. For instance, the rising number of cyberbullying incidents has led to self-harm among adolescents.
