The Impact of Social Media Platforms on Children from Parents’ Perspectives

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the impact of social media platforms on children from the perspective of parents.
It sought to identify the negative psychological manifestations associated with their use, analyze the role of these platforms in shaping adolescents’ identity and self-esteem, and investigate the effect of social comparison on their psychological well-being. The study also aimed to assess parents’ awareness of these risks and their willingness to intervene. Using a descriptive-analytical method, the research was conducted on a purposive sample of 40 parents. The results revealed significant parental awareness of the negative effects of social media on their children’s mental well-being, highlighting phenomena such as emotional numbness, voluntary introversion, and anxiety resulting from continuous social comparison and rapid stimulation. The findings further indicated that these platforms play a major role in shaping adolescents’ identities through imitation of celebrities’ behaviors and the adoption of foreign values, which threaten their autonomy. Parents also observed behavioral changes such as increased consumerism and academic neglect. The most effective coping strategies were those based on open dialogue and encouraging alternative activities, while major challenges included children’s resistance to supervision, the digital gap, and peer pressure.

The study found no statistically significant differences in risk perception attributed to parents’ demographic characteristics. Finally, it offered several recommendations emphasizing family dialogue, integrating digital awareness programs in schools, developing child protection legislation, and supporting long-term research.