According to Urban Dictionary, keeping it real means staying true to yourself, your faith, your life and constantly seeking the truth. This is an interesting idea when considering children and teenagers. All of the students who are currently in high school, junior high or elementary school are a part of Gen Z, or the technology natives. This means these kids grew up with technology; many of them did not know a world where computers, phones and tablets weren't the norm. This also means that these kids grew up with the media, specifically social media. Myspace was created in 2003, 14 years ago, so only the oldest high school students lived in a world where social media did not exist.

    This is incredibly significant because social media has provided a platform through which people can compare their lives to their friends’ lives. Social media encourages users to present the best version of themselves rather than keeping it real. We all choose to share the best parts of our life-pictures that make us seem happier or prettier or more successful than we actually are. This can be incredibly damaging to a young user’s self-esteem. Teenage years are already incredibly hard without the added pressure of comparing themselves online and having their worth measured by the number of likes they get on a selfie. This is something with which past generations have not had to grow up, and I truly believe that social media and increasing expectations and beauty standards have contributed to increased rates of depression, eating disorders and body dysmorphia in teenagers and young adults.

    As adults we have the responsibility to protect young people during this fragile time in their adolescence. I am not saying that you should completely isolate your children from social media. It is something with which we have to learn to live. What I’m saying is that we need to be aware of our children’s interactions on social media. I know many parents of teenagers that require their children to be friends with them on any social media network they use. This is a good way to be aware of what your children are posting, sharing and commenting on social media. This allows you as a parent to catch any red flags without completely invading your child’s privacy. If you see something alarming, talk to your child about it. Also, make sure your children understand that people put their best foot forward on social media and that it is harmful to compare yourself to others’ social media profiles. There is a safe way to allow your children to experience social media; you just need to take a few precautions to ensure their safety.

Bria