Subhechcha Ganguly 
Hello Aneeta ! We at the Britain Science and Technology Institute are very glad to have you on this platform discussing “ Social Media and its impact on the Youth “. This is Akriti Kakkar ,the Managing Head of Britain Science and Technology. Please answer these questions to help us understand and study the topic better.
Q1) What do you understand or what are the thoughts that come to your mind when we talk about Social Media Addiction ?
Ans The first image is of a ride on the metro with every single head bent down, eyes glued to their mobile screens, earphones plugged into ears, oblivious to the world. The next one is of a couple on a date in a restaurant, both on their own devices, stuffing food into their mouths without perhaps even realising what they are eating, leave alone enjoying it. Another is of a mother at an airport lounge, handing over a tablet to her toddler to engage him while she browses her own phone. The list is endless and scary.
Q2)Do you feel that Social Media has hampered concentration of kids over the years ?
Ans :More than hampered, it has damaged it irrevocably. Retention has reduced considerably and dependence on a gadget for everything including basic calculations and information has increased exponentially. Rather than engaging in intellectually stimulating games and activities or even reading, kids prefer to glue themselves to social media channels. Their profiles and selfies occupy most of their time and the number of virtual friends or likes dictate happiness levels.
Q3) What should be the ideal age when a kid should be handed over social media for usage ?
Ans That is difficult because peer pressure and a natural desire to ape the adults will make it impossible to impose restrictions effectively. The adults need to put a brake on their own usage before they can expect to implement it on children.
Q4)Do you feel somehow teachers and parents have a role to play in Social Media Addiction or is it completely peer pressure ?
Parental influence comes way before peer pressure. A 2-6 year old doesn’t know much about peer influence but is exposed to the adults around him, mostly parents, siblings and relatives and their behavioural patterns impact him or her immensely.
Unfortunately, with classroom teaching also tending heavily towards supplementary support through technology and whatsapp, smartphones have occupied a place adjacent to geometry boxes and pencil pouches. The rest of social media is just a step away !
Q5)What are your final thoughts on this topic ?
Ans: Social media like many scientific inventions is a double-edged sword or a necessary evil. It is here to stay and one can only hope that like a child with a new toy, its fascination will wear off in due course of time. Till then it is for the adults to reign in their own addiction if they really want to pull the children out of its clutches.
