The Modern way is the ‘logged on way’, social media seems to have gripped society into a tight vice.
We’re living in an era of ‘cyber kids’, who hang out with cyber friends, talk cyber talk and travel for free throughout a never ending cyber world.
Social media marketing is leaving TV and radio behind to keep up with this new turn in human social behaviour.
Before Social Media
Back in the day….childhood leisure time seemed to be all about spending hours playing outside with the neighbours children, skipping ropes, roller boots, making mud pies, blowing bubbles, eating bubble gum and letting the imagination provide the days’ entertainment….or something along those lines anyway.
Picking strawberries from my grandparents back garden and watching my granddad digging up the potatoes he planted every year now seems like a rare memory to cherish.
I remember the thrill of the ice cream van melody outside my house and running to get a 99, rocket or twister; and what about good old fashioned penny sweets – I didn’t need much pocket money for a sugary treat back then!
‘Anxiety’ was linked to things like being worried I might fly off the seesaw in the local park – it was pretty high.
There was always a fashion trend, but nothing bank breaking, nothing that seemed unachievable or unrealistic.
Posters on my bedroom wall, but not a selfie in sight.
Not that I’m saying this childhood picture has ceased, it just seems to be heavily over shadowed by the ways of the ‘fourth age’, the technological age.
Todays childhood picture seems increasingly more like this:
- spending hours scrolling and checking ‘likes’
- the excitement of a new notification
- the rubbing of hands at the release of the latest smart phone
- the anxiety over reactions to the latest Instagram story
- the anxiety of trying to live up to images on Instagram etc..
- falling behind with revision due to time spent on a smart phone
- less meet ups and more ‘messages’
- from a younger and younger age, children aspiring to be much older than their years
- Snapchat over a real chat
- Comparing apps
- Getting carried away on Tik Tok
Don’t get me wrong, I think there are a lot of useful and positive things about social media if used in a controlled way – and not ‘needed’ for a feeling of identity and self worth.
There’s an episode of Black Mirror that paints a picture of a world where all citizens are measured, judged, awarded and punished according to their social media popularity…..e.g. a woman being denied access onto a flight because her ‘like’ count had dipped.
The count feeds into a global system that affects everything including her ability to secure housing/get credit. Scary!!
Anxious
You might have picked up on the increasing popularity of the term ‘anxiety’, and the growing number of children and young people (not to mention adults) using it as a diagnosis for not leaving their house and engaging in the real world….it’s become quite a common buzz word these days.
Depressed
There seems to be a lot of evidence suggesting social media has a lot to do with the rise in childhood depression.
Children and teens are trying to grow up in front of an ever demanding and competitively driven audience.
There is a pressure on them to feed this audience with images and information about themselves that will impress and measure up to the glamour of ‘cyber life’.
“Often such children will refuse to travel to psychiatrist appointments, so a range of professionals have to make home visits to deal with the issue. It can take months to persuade them to leave their bedrooms” BBC News
Bullied
Cyber bullying is an ever present occurrence for children and young people – a potentially 24hr seven days a week onslaught.
Groomed
We all know the internet is a playground for human traffickers seeking both adults and children to groom for exploitation. This is a severe problem, globally – despite very rarely being spoken about in the mainstream media.
Children and teens are more vulnerable to these types of predators – as if parents haven’t got enough to worry about…..
Knackered!
Many children and teens are staying up till all hours of the school night, keeping up with all the ‘goings-on’ in the cyber world, too enticed to switch off; they arrive at school yawning and unable to concentrate.
“Children are also inclined to reduce the hours that they sleep in order to stay connected, which can cause them to be irritable, stressed and depressed, or abandon their hobbies and school obligations not related to ICT” Source
Living in Fantasy Land
It’s not the real world – but people (not just children) are living through it as though it is more ‘real’ than what goes on offline. A world where everything and everyone is perfect, depending on who you follow and what images come through in your feed.
These kids are living in a fictional world, sometimes to the detriment of their physical health.
They might have physical ill-health, like toothache, but they are still not wanting to leave their virtual worlds,” BBC News
Anonymous
So glad to hear this perspective. We have limited our child’s screen time. None before 2 years old. They are 11 and don’t have a phone yet. They play with the neighbors in the back yard. Yay!
Cherryl
Awwww, reminds me of the good old days – hopefully by the time your children do get a smartphone, they’ll have less of an appetite for it 🤞Thanks for reading 🤗
Blootvoet
Hehehe. By coincidence, just posted about the carefree play in childhood here in Africa. Check it out on my Whim Sickle blog.
Chaz 🌸
Couldn’t agree with you more ! I work at a daycare and when we go outside the kids always says how bored they are ! I don’t understand because as a child all my cousins and I played outside allll day !!
Cherryl
Me too, playing outside never got boring, we used our imaginations and played games etc…you probably get to see the shift more vividly with so many children around you – it must be sad in some ways 😥
Chaz 🌸
It is sad ! I even give them ideas and they say “it’s stupid” or “boring” I’m like listen I could never say that when I was a kid ! Smh this generation is just so different
Cherryl
It’s a completely different world, unfortunately and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down with all these changes either!! I guess we just have to do our best to try an influence where we can.
Chaz 🌸
Yes I make my son do everything I did as a child ! So he can be bette r
charlypriest
I just don’t comprehend this new world, and I’m not that old
Cherryl
You’re not alone there – things are changing faster than ever before – in so many aspects of life, I can’t keep up!! 😐
charlypriest
You can, why? You´re a woman, smarter, faster, I´m old school and I´m not even that old. Slower…..but happy
Cherryl
Lol, that’s very kind (I’m probably older than you think 😆) – but honestly, it’s getting crazy these days, and very often the simple things and simple ways bring us the most joy!! 😊
charlypriest
That was too deep,
Blootvoet
I’m almost sixty but an online test rated me as Generation Z. 🤣🤣😋
charlypriest
O, you mean 30 so you are my generation wch sounds much cooler ¨generation X”, so we are kind like the X men superhéroes.
Blootvoet
🤣🤣
vinneve
I don’t like it too, children should really engage to play with real people not with gadgets etc. I limit my son using it as I encourage him to play with friends or into sports at least.
Cherryl
Sounds like you’ve got the right idea Vinneve – there needs to be a healthy balance, and being out of the house and doing something active has lots of healthy benefits 😊🌻🚴🔆
vinneve
It’s because I grew up with no gadgets in my days and it’s the best childhood I can say. How I wish I can give the same to my child but life now is so different. Thanks for checking my blog too!
Cherryl
You are very welcome 😊
vinneve
got some new post recently pls check it out when you get the chance thanks!
pvcann
Yes indeed