Should kids have social media accounts?

Social media network has been defined as dedicated online spaces where users share personalized content such as photos, videos, posts etc and are designed specifically to create a direct or indirect contact between members.

However, the use of social media has gone beyond just teens and older people. It has become the norm for parents, especially mothers, to open and manage social media accounts for their children who are just babies.

With this in mind, LifeXtra sought to know what people’s opinion were on it. We spoke to a few respondents across the country.

Muhammad Bello Sada, a father, who works in a tertiary institution, opines that it is wrong for parents to allow their kids have social media accounts and it is the height of irresponsibility to manage a social media account for toddlers. “What in God’s name is the importance of a social media account to toddlers and kids? Is the social media account a bank account”? he asked rhetorically.

“We have to look at the security risks. All sort of people, pages, and groups are all over the social media. Nowadays criminals monitor social media activities of people to mark their victims for assault. Paedophiles do the same. Not to mention the damage such addiction will do to children in their priorities of life, especially the emphasis on their education. Social media are not regulated and as such, should not be exposed to kids.”

Chuks Enyi, father of a toddler, also told LifeXtra “Allowing your children to have a social media account is directly exposing them to the dangers associated with it. I can’t fathom any benefit a toddler can get from the social media. The social media contains streams of uncensored information and opinions which could be detrimental to the formative period of the child. The parents and their schools should be able to provide all the necessary information they need at that level.”

He added “Children should have learnt the basics of life, being able to distinguish between good and evil before they are exposed to the social media. And I think, the teenage age isn’t a bad idea. Therefore, social media is not for kids.”

 Chinedu Nzere, a Lagos-based catering and event director, asked, “Why put a child/toddler through something that would in the long run have adverse effects on him? I want to cite examples using our contemporary celebrities both home and abroad. Childhood is a time or stage where the child’s mind develops and once this stage has been altered, it might be very hard to find an ‘antidote’.

Citing an example, he said “I know a family in Lagos State. This man works directly under the Governor of Lagos State. All his kids are married with kids save for his last daughter. This family is wealthy, very wealthy but they live a serene life. None of his grandchildren owns an account on any platform. I believe 70 per cent of parents who do such are ‘rich’ and want to flaunt their riches in some kind of way that is hard for me to phantom.”

Josh Alozie who resides in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, said “No I don’t think they should have a social media account. It is addictive, it is a habit they can get hooked on and if not properly handled, can be harmful to their immediate environment.”

“They should concentrate more on physical human association as they had none when they were in the tummy. Besides if they start now what will they do when they grow up,” he concluded.

When LifeXtra asked him what his opinion was on parents who open and manage social media accounts for their toddlers/kids, he said “They should repent because they are selling their children’s personalities for mere usable data.”

Odu Juliana who said she always advises people to allow children to be the kids they are, stated “Stop forcing them to be matured all the time, allow them to grow under normal circumstances the way you grew up, allow them to experience two different lifestyles. The social media is an entirely different world, I bet no mother will allow her 10-year-old child to live apart in another village talk more of another country, so why endanger and expose a little child to the whole world?

“If you are a celebrity and you feel the importance of introducing your child to social media to build a fan-base for future purpose, open an account for him/her, run it yourself until they get to age 15 or 16 then hand it over to them with instruction. Simple.”

Victor Goni, a Kano resident, responded with an emphatic NO! His reason? “Every reason why they should have an account is not valid. Such accounts as far as I am concerned belong to the parents not the kids. As a matter of fact I suggest that the internet should be tagged 18+ by law.”

Ayeesha Shallangwa Satti, married and a mother of one, says “It does not make sense because it is harmful to the children.”

Concurring with Goni on the age restriction, she said, “Please no social media until 18 years.”