There may have been a time when children wanted to grow up to be an astronaut, cowboy, princess and even a movie star. Today’s teens and young adults hope to make it big on social media, as recent studies have found that more than half of Generation Z aspires to be influencers. However, age restrictions, such as those imposed by Australia last year and now being considered in some U.S. states, including Arkansas and North Carolina, could limit when those influencer-hopefuls can launch their careers.
This may not entirely be a bad thing, however.
Social media has turned seemingly ordinary children and teens into global superstars, potentially setting them up for lifelong careers. Still, few young people can seriously hope to be the next big thing. As with those looking to make it big in Hollywood, more will fail than succeed.
“The allure of quick and easy wealth persists across generations, from gold rush prospectors flocking to California to today’s social media influencers,” warned Dr. Helen Marlo, dean of Notre Dame de Namur University’s School of Psychology.
“The issue of fostering unrealistic financial goals at the expense of mental health is a significant concern. However, that is a cultural problem that is hardly limited to those involved in the social media world,” added Marlo. “Social media is here; the genie has been let out of the bottle.”
Problem Solved? Maybe Not
Today, social media is inextricably intertwined with technology, and daily it serves as a communication conduit that is utilized to connect with family, friends, school, and work. Age restrictions could impact the positives that social media brings, and still fall short of solving its more serious issues.
“Notwithstanding that banning most things is generally associated with other psychological problems, social media bans give children mixed messages: learn, communicate with teachers, and do homework online while banning or drastically limiting social media platforms that are commonly used to connect with friends and family thereby creating other hurdles for children and parents,” Marlo continued.
Thus, the age restrictions are really just an easy fix for a very complicated problem.
“Social media is viewed the same as video games and allows children to excel in new environments, contribute to the community, learn new skills, and have fun. State governments use mental health challenges as a scapegoat to make social media appear unsafe and not to be trusted,” explained Dr. Eugene Lucas, associate professor and coordinator of the distance education Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program at Wilkes University.
Lucas also noted that studies have shown adolescents to be drawn to social networking sites because they allow them to show creativity by publishing pictures, images, and videos on the platforms.
“It also allows teens to establish friends, discuss ideas, discover new interests, and try out new kinds of self-expression,” said Lucas. “Users of these platforms can freely like and comment on posts as well as share them without any restrictions.”
At the same time, it may require adult supervision to stop the spread of harmful content that can lead to cyberbullying, while kids should also be told of their limitations. Children may expect to begin posting and instantly see a wave of followers, yet that isn’t often the case.
“This includes supporting realistic posts that moderate expectations rather than promoting unrealistic posts that incentivize profit and also encouraging more engaged and regulated ways to use social media,” said Marlo.
Can Middle Ground Be Found?
If age restrictions become universal, it could mean the end of the line for children taking part in toy “unboxings” and creating other kid-friendly content.
“Although the concerns for youth and social media are valid, age bans could impact the careers of young influencers. Many start building their brand and audience before they reach their teens,” said Stacy Roberts, lecturer of management at the Hull College of Business at Augusta University.
Many child creators and kidfluencers are just the face behind a family effort, and the age restrictions could limit not only the ability for the content to be created but also for it to be consumed. That would be the wrong course of action, Roberts added.
“We have seen the effects from social pressures of online visibility, but I do believe when done with parental control and healthy social media behavior, there are financial and creative opportunities,” Roberts continued. “We will also see kids trying to get around age bans. While safer online environments are important, it is just as important for parents to be aware of and monitor their children.”
