SOCIAL MEDIA: READY TO TAKEOFF, BUT WITH TRAINING WHEELS

Woah! Imagine the coolest jungle gym ever, complete with twisting and turning slides, monkey bars that stretch the length of the park and a zip line that allows you to soar into the air! Doesn't that sound wonderful? However, that gigantic jungle gym may be difficult to tackle on your own. That's how social media works.

Some adults believe that young people, particularly teens, should avoid social media until they are older. They are concerned that seeing other people's posts online would make you feel uncomfortable or dejected, similar to how someone hogs all the swings at playtime. But, hey, just as we learn how to share the swings, we can also learn how to be nice online!

Consider how much amazing content you can find on social networking sites! You can see photographs of your favorite performers, talk to your best friend who lives across town, or even find instructions that will teach you how to build the most spectacular LEGO castle ever! It's like discovering a completely new playground on your phone or PC!

Perhaps you're thinking, "What if someone is mean to me online?" That does happen from time to time, just like accidentally knocking into someone on the actual playground. But there is good news: if something feels wrong, you can always inform a trusted adult. Plus, most social media platforms include settings to keep strangers away, which is similar to having an adult monitor the playground, but in a digital sense!

So, what is the best age to begin utilizing social media? That's a difficult question! Some youngsters may be ready to explore this new playground sooner than others, as long as an adult is around to explain the ropes. It's all about following the rules; you wouldn't climb the jungle gym without shoes!

Social networking may be a great way to meet new people, share interesting items, and have fun. It can be just as safe and entertaining as conquering the jungle gym if you have an adult at your side to help you out - maybe even more fun because you can share the experience with your friends online!