Ending the War Among Our Children Fueled by Social Media

 

Fig 1. Sad Child on Porch (MPIX)

 

In America we live in a society in which one tweet can trigger a bunch of people you don't know. The rise of social media has drastically transformed the way we communicate, share information, and even bully one another. While platforms like Meta, X, Instagram, and begrudgingly TikTok have made it easier to connect across the globe, they’ve also created a breeding ground for harassment, hatred, and violence that can affect your home.

This is not some far-off concern. Increasingly, the lines between online interactions and offline behavior are blurring. The emotional effects of digital bullying are spilling over into our spaces, turning once safe environments like schools, workplaces, and even homes into battlegrounds. While these posts may seem childish to adults, teenagers are feeling the repercussions of this new form of public shaming, humiliation, and abuse. Social media influence is manipulating our children to cause more bullying, and we can minimize this issue through strict electronic house-rules and open communication.  

Cyberbullying, the malicious use of digital platforms to target and harm individuals, has been well-documented over the last decade. According to the Pew Research Center,, a staggering 46% of U.S. teens report being bullied or harassed online, with many citing hurtful comments and rumors as the most common forms of digital torment. But these people don't stop there. As social media has evolved, so too has the severity of online harassment. An opinion on a public thread can lead to waves of triggered people flooding your private messages with threats of violence, these consequences can ripple into the real world and endanger your loved ones.  

The National Library of Medicine states in their article Cyberbullying and Adolescent Suicide “14.9 percent of adolescents have been cyberbullied with 13.6 percent of adolescents having made a serious suicide attempt.” The very idea that some stranger online that you don’t know could have a serious effect on your child AND nothing is being done? A complete stranger could take your loved ones away from you! We cannot rely on the powers that be to take action. We, as parents, must PROTECT our children! 

As a parent I have seen firsthand the devastating effects that harassment can have on my children. In my experience, the emotional and psychological turmoil of online bullying is more than a passing phase; it's a battlefield that can lead to long-lasting scars. Fighting for our moral values against the democratic party has given me many of those wounds. I have worked with countless peers, some of them have been so affected by the attacks on the left that they've gotten off the internet entirely. If grown adults struggle with this issue, how do our children stand a chance? The anxiety, isolation, and feelings of worthlessness that often follow these online attacks are not abstract concepts; they are real and deeply affecting. As professionals, parents, and Americans, we must all take responsibility for combating this growing crisis. 

At the height of 2020, during the Republican National Convention these attacks were emphasized best by Donald Trump during his speech:

"The goal of cancel culture is to make decent Americans live in fear of being fired, expelled, shamed, humiliated and driven from society as we know it."

Bullying among children and cancel culture both share the destructive goal of intimidating individuals into submission, fostering an environment of fear and shame. Just as children may ostracize peers to enforce conformity, cancel culture seeks to silence and punish those who deviate from socially accepted norms, creating a climate where individuals are afraid to speak or act freely, for fear of being "expelled" or publicly humiliated. It is important to keep our children safe and away from these deviant acts social media practices.

But, you may think, bullying has existed since the dawn of time! We’ve all had to deal with it, it toughens us up! What more of an effect does social media have on this? The real news is, bullying in schools alone could only stay in that locker room or beaten-up street. With the internet, our children have NOWHERE to hide. The masks that cyberbullying provides have made these fugitives more bold in real-life confrontations, reports Dr. Wick in How Using Social Media Affects Teenagers. Imagine your child, walking home all by themselves, and a group of boys come and beat them up for spreading your good values online. We all know that bullies are just COWARDS and the internet is their hidey-hole because they’re too scared to step foot on our property. Once on the internet, always on the internet. Comments and pictures used by bullies will not only follow our children through environments but also across years of their life.   

We cannot let these strangers on TikTok, Instagram, and whatever social media platform affect our children in detrimental ways. The internet is full of both positive and negative influences, and unfortunately, the harmful content can often outweigh the helpful. It is our responsibility as parents to stand between our children and potential dangers, not just to protect their physical safety, but also their mental and emotional well-being.   

The digital world can be overwhelming, with its constant influx of images, messages, and sometimes toxic trends that may leave lasting effects on young minds. By being vigilant and proactive, we can help shield our children from these risks. The best way to defend them from this threat is to set a good example of internet safety, encourage open communication about online experiences, and establish clear boundaries. This includes monitoring device usage, not just by limiting screen time, even if that means taking their phone away for a while. Also, delaying the age at which we give our children phones can offer them valuable time to develop a strong sense of self without harmful influence. By ensuring that our children understand the importance of privacy, respectful communication, and online responsibility, we can keep them safe. Ultimately, it’s about striking a balance between digital engagement and real-world development, equipping our children with the tools they need to succeed in both worlds while protecting their innocence for as long as possible.