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Lucky With Love

Hi, thank you for visiting my website on couples, dating and relationships. My name is Megan May and I'm just a person who has had a lot of experience with romance and love. I have always yearned for that special someone, but it has taken me almost two decades to finally find him. But in the process, I have learned so much about the heart and about how to share as much of yourself as you can while getting just as much back in return. If you are struggling to find love or if you have any other problems with your relationships, this is the website for you!

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Social Media And Your Child's Self Esteem

by Louise Holt

The issue of whether or not parents should allow their pre-teens or adolescents to indulge in social media platform is an on-going topic in parenting and psychiatric circles. The fact is, social media is currently so pervasive, there's no stopping the kids from participating. 

Protecting a child's self-esteem and relative innocence are two of the most pressing issues that parents worry about. Here's the reality: Like most things, there's pros and cons to the endeavor. Below are a few positive and negative examples of how social media impacts children and teenagers. 

The Pros

Age-appropriate socialization with friends

Gone are the days when youngsters would hang out in the school yards to socialize after school. Today's young people are using social media to keep up on the latest trends, fashions, and age-appropriate celebrities. Social media platforms, both text and streaming, gives kids and teens the feeling of staying in the loop. Participation allows them to experience the feeling of relatability.  In the same way that adults watch the morning and evening news to keep up with information, the young people of today are gathering their news from social media platform participation. 

Development of critical thinking and values

Social media participation can have a positive impact on kids, because it sharpens their critical thinking skills. As they discuss what's going on in culture, they can develop their voices and their points of view.

Young children commonly adopt the perceptions and viewpoints of their parents. But as a child ages into their pre-teen and adolescent years, it's important for them to identify their own points of view. Having healthy discussions and debates with friends challenges them to discern their own morals and values. They also gain the opportunity to develop their unique cognitive skills. All of these are crucial life skills they'll need to call upon as healthy, successful adults. 

The Cons

Social media is often a hotbed for abusive behavior

In one survey, 60% of parents of children aged 14-18 reported that their kids had experieced cyberbullying. Children can develop depression and suicidal ideations due to abusive behaviors they experience via social media. Unlike the old days, parents can't simply move their children to a new school when bullying doesn't stop. 

Examples of social media bullying include hashtags, memes, gifs, forum threads, and discussion groups. Not only are these forms of bullying dangerous to a young person's self esteem, but in too many cases, online bullying has resulted in deadly consequences. 

Luckily for parents, there are definite signs that their child or teenager is suffering from social-media related self-esteem issues. These include changes in their mood, their physical appearance, or behavioral issues. Although the signs are obvious, affected kids may be slow to confide in their parents. This is when psychiatric services from professionals like Les Linet MD can help to repair their damaged self-esteem.  A therapist who is licensed to perform child psychiatric services can provide a safe place for the affected young person to share what they've experienced. They'll also learn why a negative experience isn't their fault, and they'll gain tools for learning how to navigate digital socializing in a healthy manner. 

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