The other day my friends and I were talking about our morning routines. Most were pretty typical (wake up, brush your teeth, make some breakfast, etc.), but one thing stood out: every single one of us said that the first thing we do upon waking up is check our social media accounts—myself included!
This experience was pretty eye-opening. It showed me how prevalent social media had become in my own life. I couldn’t go five minutes without tapping on my phone! After that conversation, I made the decision to delete social media from my device. My mental health has skyrocketed. I’ve stopped comparing myself to the people I see on Instagram, and I don’t feel the need to regularly tap on my phone to check for notifications. I also have an easier time falling asleep thanks to a screen-free nighttime routine.
Social media seems unavoidable, but that isn’t the case. In fact, we at Troomi have made it our mission to help you and your kids avoid the unavoidable. To accomplish this, Troomi phones have altogether removed social media platforms from the equation.
But why is social media so detrimental for kids and teens, and why do Troomi phones completely remove it? Let’s take a look!
Why do Troomi phones remove social media?
I’m sure you’ve heard people compare social media to a disease. Why is that? What is it about social media that makes it so detrimental for kids?
- Social media posts usually don’t reflect reality. It’s no secret that many influencers cover their photos in filters or use photo editing to modify their bodies. This presents a glaringly false depiction of life—one that teens may not realize is fake. It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing our own lives to the unrealistic standard set by influencers. Comparison culture is one of the leading causes of low self-esteem, as this study found, and in some cases can lead to depression and anxiety.
- Cyberbullying runs wild on social media. When I was a kid, bullying took place on the playground or in the classroom. Like most things, however, bullying has become digital. Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over social media, and the social impact of this new phenomenon is not good. Studies suggest that cyberbullied victims generally experience lower self-esteem and poor mental health, with some experiencing depression, anxiety, and other school-related phobias.
- Notifications change your brain. Next time you get a notification on your phone, I want you to notice how your body reacts. Do you feel a little bit of exhilaration? Your body’s natural reaction to receiving a notification sends your brain into overdrive as it releases serotonin. Serotonin is beneficial in natural amounts (it’s the hormone that makes us happy), but it can cause anxiety and stress in large doses. Instinctively checking for notifications is also a sign of burgeoning tech addiction. Check out this great article about breaking mobile phone addiction if this sounds like you or your kids.
- Predators use social media to identify and groom unsuspecting kids. One of the coolest parts of social media is how easy it makes it to connect with friends and family. Unfortunately, this is a double edged sword, and predators can take advantage of easy connections to identify and groom unsuspecting kids. Thankfully, organizations like Safe from Online Sex Abuse (SOSA) have some great resources to combat online predators. Make sure to talk to your child about cyber safety, and check out this article for some tips on protection against predators.
What are the benefits of a social media free phone?
Enough about the negatives; let’s talk about some positives!
Did you know that when kids and teens aren’t held down by the straps of social media, their brains have the ability to focus on other things like building greater self-confidence and developing strong, real-world connections? Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of a social media free phone like Troomi. Spoiler alert: there are so many!
- No social media means greater self-confidence. We’ve talked about how social media is the killer of self-esteem. Without it, however, improved self-confidence and self-esteem are right around the corner. This is because kids have more time to focus on themselves rather than any competition, allowing them to develop a positive self-image free from the constraints of comparison.
- Encourage your kids to develop real life connections and relationships. Did you know that people who spend a lot of time on social media sites report feeling lonelier than those who don’t? With social media off the table, kids and teens have to reach out and develop real life connections with people around them. This leads to increased social skills and situational awareness, in addition to creating lasting relationships with friends and peers.
- Your kids will be bored—and that’s a good thing! Teens and adults alike use social media as a way to fill time and avoid boredom. But did you know that boredom can be a good thing? Check out this article to learn more about how boredom helps kids by developing creativity and a more curious mind.
- Kids sleep better without social media. Just as my friends would check social media every morning, they would similarly spend a few minutes scrolling before bed. Spending time with a screen before bed is detrimental to your sleep schedule, because blue light exposure stops your body from producing the right amount of melatonin, as this study found. Removing social media takes away the temptation to stay up late on a screen. Young eyes are especially susceptible to blue lights and keeping your kids’ bedtime screen free can only boost the quality of their sleep.
- Kids develop a greater appreciation for the outdoors when they’re not looking at it through a screen. Social media encourages kids to stay inside and spend their time scrolling, liking, watching, and repeating. Without social media, however, kids have more time to get outside and explore the outdoors. Our earth is so amazing, and without the time-consuming temptation of social media, kids have more time to appreciate just how cool nature can be.
Give Troomi a try!
Social media has been compared to a disease, but thankfully Troomi has the cure: getting rid of it altogether. If you’re looking to introduce your children to the world of technology with a smartphone that is functional, easy to use, and empowers them to enjoy life without staring through a screen, then give Troomi a try!
Click here to read our mission and learn a little bit more about Troomi. You won’t regret it.
And don’t forget to keep an eye on our blog for more parenting tips and tricks in the future! We update it every weekday with great articles that you won’t want to miss.