Social Media for Children and Teenagers 11-14: Ethical, Social and Legal Issues

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Social Media for Children and
Teenagers 11-14
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Running head: SOCIAL MEDIA FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS 11-14
Table of Contents
1. Ethical, Social and Legal Issues............................................................................................................................... 1
2. Different Perspectives and Arguments by Stakeholders............................................................................................4
3. Assessment and Evaluation of Issues based on Consideration of Evidence, Different Perspectives............................5
4. Application of Professional Codes of Conduct and Ethical Principles.......................................................................9
References...................................................................................................................................................................... 11

Running head: SOCIAL MEDIA FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS 11-14
1. Ethical, Social and Legal Issues
The topic to be covered includes, Social media for children and teenagers 11-14. In
today's society, social media is regarded as a controversy topic, based on different perspectives
and real life human relationships. In the recent research, the figures collected from Ofcom related
to UK show that, nearly 52 percent of three to four year old children and 82 percent of five to
seven year old children are seen online. The research also reveals that the preschoolers became
familiar with the digital devices prior to being exposed to the books (What Do We Know About
Children And Technology?, 2019). The reports from Mintel show that technology consumption
includes tablets, smartphones, e-readers, internet-connected smart televisions, desktop, social
networking, portable games consoles, laptop and gaming (Store.mintel.com, 2016).
Figure: In UK, social media use in Children (What Do We Know About Children And
Technology?, 2019).
Relatively, the young children often land up in legal issues with respect to the disclosure
of their personal information which they post on the social media sites and breach of their
privacy. The hackers often ask for ransom amounts of money, which is illegal. As children are
unaware of the consequences of posting information on the social networking sites and in turn
makes their own pictures and other information vulnerable to be accessed by the hackers. Thus,
this topic fits well with Ethics and Social issues in Information Systems and is worth to spend
time on.
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Running head: SOCIAL MEDIA FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS 11-14
This report ensures to find the limits and vulnerabilities. Further, this report focuses on
the effect on society, the relevant ethical theory used to explain the effects and how the law and
professional codes can be used to control or mitigate harm.
Technology and Adolescents
Today, information systems are widely used by the organizations, including the
adolescents. Information system helps the business to automate their processes, to effectively
operate their business operations. They are being used in social media as well. These platforms
are at present used and accessed by consumers including the children. As per Winpenny,
Marteau and Nolte, the children below the age of 14 use social media like Facebook, Instagram
and twitter that in turn have adverse impacts on the way they think (Winpenny, Marteau and
Nolte 2013).
In the study by Prensky (2001), the use of social media, computer and adolescence are
considered to be interlinked, as the teenagers are hardly seen without a single social media
account and smartphone. Due to social media the adolescents can have both new opportunities as
well as various challenges. In future, technology will advance and people must adapt to it. With
the evolution of social media, the means of communication has seen drastic transformation.
People utilize social media for staying connected with their relatives/friends, to make plans and
for socializing. However, in adolescence the use of social media is a concern, as they stay online
all the time. Additionally, social media exposes the adolescents to unhealthy aspects (Prensky,
2001).
The study examined by Clayton, Leshner and Almond have shown how the extended self,
emotion, cognition, and physiology of the individual is affected if the iPhone users can’t answer
their iPhone when they are doing some cognitive tasks. As a whole, the results drive toward the
better understanding of how technology separation can have impact on the users (Clayton,
Leshner and Almond, 2015).
Social Media usage in Adolescence
Social media is utilized by the adolescents for seeking friendship and for exploring topics
which interest them. Any content which the children and teens view can have significant impact
on their development. Social media could hinder the physical development of the adolescent,
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