Wild Card

 How Young is too Young for Social Media

   Everyone has their own opinion about what age is appropriate for kids to have phones, get social media, and have a free range of things they post on the internet. Every parent has a different perspective on when their child is allowed to have access to these privileges, but here are some things to consider. First of all, most social media platforms, like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, have age restrictions in their terms of service that say you must be at least 13 years old to create an account.

    While age restrictions are in place, it is essential for parents and guardians to consider their child's emotional and cognitive readiness for social media. Here are a few things to consider. The first thing is the maturity level of your child. Children mature at different rates. Some may be emotionally and socially ready for social media at an earlier age, while others may need more time. Next, social media involves sharing personal information. It is crucial to educate children about privacy settings, the importance of sharing sensitive information, and the potential risks of interacting with strangers online. There have been several instances where parents have thankfully caught their child talking to sketchy strangers online that could possibly do them harm. Privacy is something that should not be taken lightly, and parents should stress to their children how important it is before allowing them to have free range over the internet. Parents should be actively involved in their child's online activities, setting guidelines, monitoring content, and maintaining open communication about their experiences on social media. Social media can also be very time-consuming, and parents should control and monitor it to make sure they are not spending too much time online. People talk about all the time how teenagers now are way different than when we were new teenagers. It is crazy how different the times have changed in just ten years. Personally, I was not allowed to have a phone until I was thirteen and at the time I thought it was a crime but now looking back I am glad that my parents made me wait. I still had several restrictions on apps that I could use because of the inappropriate content that would be posted on the apps. I had friends in some cases their parents made them wait until they got a car to get a phone, but then others that had a phone at ten only because of situations like divorced parents. The increase in social media over the years has had a lot to do with the change in teenagers over the last several years. I believe TikTok has a lot to do with the maturity level of teenagers these days because they can keep up with the latest trends. The characteristics and behaviors of teenagers can evolve over time due to changes in technology, culture, social norms, and various other factors.

@gold.standard79 Younger me was so much fun 🙂 #teenager #thenvsnow #nowvsthen #funny #fyp #foryou #highschool #millennial #millennialsoftiktok ♬ original sound - Gold

    Public relations is a strategic communication process that organizations, individuals, or entities use to build and maintain positive relationships with the public. The goal of public relations is to create a favorable image and reputation for the entity, convey its messages effectively, and manage perceptions among its target audience. I wouldn't say it is easy to get famous on TikTok these days, but if you know what you are doing or have interesting enough content, then your following will grow quickly. The number of young influencers in today's world is crazy. Over the last several years, I can recall several situations where influencers have taken a wrong turn in their new fame. Being young and having so much power on the internet can be scary. Things that you put on the internet are there forever, and I think that is where a lot of people mess up. You can post something for two seconds, and I guarantee you someone has already seen it and possibly screenshotted it to show other people. The problem young influencers run into is that they are their own people and do not have someone to guide them in their new social media journey. I have witnessed 16-year-old girls ruin their fame just by making one mistake because they did not know any better. From the ages of 13 to 18, your emotions, hormones, and self-image can fluctuate in weird ways. It is easy to act out of emotion and do something you will regret on the internet. For example, Harper Zilmer is a 14-year-old who just recently gained a large number of followers on TikTok. She posted her first TikTok in January of this year and is sadly already having social media drama with another girl, and it has not even been a year. There has to be some way for young influencers to receive personal public relations for their own sake. I understand that some influencers agree to "beef" in order to gain clout and followers, but there is a fine line that you can dance on by doing that. Things can get pushed too far, feelings can get hurt, and then it goes full-on war.

@harperzilmer4 Are u scared? Reply to my texts piper #lolpodcast ♬ original sound - Harperzilmer

    Overall, public relations is something that should not be taken lightly in the big world of social media. PR plays a crucial role in social media due to its power to shape and manage people and organizations online presence. In the dynamic landscape of social media, where information spreads rapidly, PR helps build and maintain a positive image and manage crises effectively. Social media platforms serve as direct channels to communicate with people and organizations and allow you to make personal connections. Sometimes new influencers just need a little help with monitoring their conversations and the things they post in order to protect their image. Ultimately, the integration of PR and social media is essential for building and maintaining a strong and positive online presence in today's interconnected digital world.