Press "Enter" to skip to content

The Social Media Cup: Half Empty or Half Full? | Talah James | TEDxYouth@CapeTown


[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

I could tell you about the multiple

I could tell you about the multiple arguments I’ve had with my parents in

arguments I’ve had with my parents in

arguments I’ve had with my parents in regards to social media although if I

regards to social media although if I

regards to social media although if I did we would be here all day they

did we would be here all day they

did we would be here all day they usually start with me on my cell phone

usually start with me on my cell phone

usually start with me on my cell phone going through whatever social media

going through whatever social media

going through whatever social media sites I decided to open then my mom or

sites I decided to open then my mom or

sites I decided to open then my mom or my dad or both walk in see me on my cell

my dad or both walk in see me on my cell

my dad or both walk in see me on my cell phone and take my phone away now I’m

phone and take my phone away now I’m

phone and take my phone away now I’m angry because I feel they won’t give me

angry because I feel they won’t give me

angry because I feel they won’t give me the opportunity to explain myself but

the opportunity to explain myself but

the opportunity to explain myself but after all the research I’ve done I

after all the research I’ve done I

after all the research I’ve done I believe their anger comes from a place

believe their anger comes from a place

believe their anger comes from a place of anxiety and frustration because they

of anxiety and frustration because they

of anxiety and frustration because they have heard the most horrible stories

have heard the most horrible stories

have heard the most horrible stories about social media so just like my

about social media so just like my

about social media so just like my parents and I I believe every parents

parents and I I believe every parents

parents and I I believe every parents and their teenagers need to communicate

and their teenagers need to communicate

and their teenagers need to communicate to overcome this mental barrier that

to overcome this mental barrier that

to overcome this mental barrier that social media has caused first the

social media has caused first the

social media has caused first the parents should explain the horrible

parents should explain the horrible

parents should explain the horrible things they’ve heard which include

things they’ve heard which include

things they’ve heard which include cyberbullying the creepy and weird

cyberbullying the creepy and weird

cyberbullying the creepy and weird habits of other people and the

habits of other people and the

habits of other people and the psychological effect it could have on

psychological effect it could have on

psychological effect it could have on their child like most high school

their child like most high school

their child like most high school students I have in cyber bullied and has

students I have in cyber bullied and has

students I have in cyber bullied and has been proven at teenagers who spend three

been proven at teenagers who spend three

been proven at teenagers who spend three or more hours on social media during a

or more hours on social media during a

or more hours on social media during a school day are one hundred and ten

school day are one hundred and ten

school day are one hundred and ten percent more likely to be a victim of

percent more likely to be a victim of

percent more likely to be a victim of cyber bullying and this is worrying to

cyber bullying and this is worrying to

cyber bullying and this is worrying to parents because not many victims even

parents because not many victims even

parents because not many victims even tell their parents that they are being

tell their parents that they are being

tell their parents that they are being cyber bullied as there is nothing you

cyber bullied as there is nothing you

cyber bullied as there is nothing you can do to fix it it’s nearly impossible

can do to fix it it’s nearly impossible

can do to fix it it’s nearly impossible to trace a hurtful message back to the

to trace a hurtful message back to the

to trace a hurtful message back to the person who wrote it as they are normally

person who wrote it as they are normally

person who wrote it as they are normally sent anonymously it’s believed that kids

sent anonymously it’s believed that kids

sent anonymously it’s believed that kids who are frequently cyber bullied are

who are frequently cyber bullied are

who are frequently cyber bullied are more likely to abuse substances skip

more likely to abuse substances skip

more likely to abuse substances skip school experience bullying at school

school experience bullying at school

school experience bullying at school poor grades lower self-esteem

poor grades lower self-esteem

poor grades lower self-esteem more health problems so it’s

more health problems so it’s

more health problems so it’s understandable why parents are so strict

understandable why parents are so strict

understandable why parents are so strict a few months ago I received an anonymous

a few months ago I received an anonymous

a few months ago I received an anonymous message telling me I look like an owl

message telling me I look like an owl

message telling me I look like an owl and other things that apparently haven’t

and other things that apparently haven’t

and other things that apparently haven’t spread about me and I was hurt by the

spread about me and I was hurt by the

spread about me and I was hurt by the fact that someone out there didn’t like

fact that someone out there didn’t like

fact that someone out there didn’t like me and that these things were going

me and that these things were going

me and that these things were going around but I had to remember none of it

around but I had to remember none of it

around but I had to remember none of it was true in any cyber bullying meant

was true in any cyber bullying meant

was true in any cyber bullying meant message is absolute nonsense I was even

message is absolute nonsense I was even

message is absolute nonsense I was even contemplating whether or not I should

contemplating whether or not I should

contemplating whether or not I should tell my family because I was worried

tell my family because I was worried

tell my family because I was worried that they would judge me and here the

that they would judge me and here the

that they would judge me and here the end effect we mean that i would have to

end effect we mean that i would have to

end effect we mean that i would have to delete the profile from the social media

delete the profile from the social media

delete the profile from the social media site i had recently started using in the

site i had recently started using in the

site i had recently started using in the end i did delete my profile for it as i

end i did delete my profile for it as i

end i did delete my profile for it as i did tell my parents and even though they

did tell my parents and even though they

did tell my parents and even though they were angry I knew they weren’t angry

were angry I knew they weren’t angry

were angry I knew they weren’t angry with me all I want to do is protect me

with me all I want to do is protect me

with me all I want to do is protect me that’s what every parent wants with

that’s what every parent wants with

that’s what every parent wants with their teenager sometimes we don’t

their teenager sometimes we don’t

their teenager sometimes we don’t realize the danger of putting too much

realize the danger of putting too much

realize the danger of putting too much information online I was at my friend’s

information online I was at my friend’s

information online I was at my friend’s house and we decided to swim we were

house and we decided to swim we were

house and we decided to swim we were having a great time but like most

having a great time but like most

having a great time but like most teenagers or you needed a picture to

teenagers or you needed a picture to

teenagers or you needed a picture to prove it looking back posting a fiction

prove it looking back posting a fiction

prove it looking back posting a fiction our costumes wasn’t the smartest idea as

our costumes wasn’t the smartest idea as

our costumes wasn’t the smartest idea as this can lead to stalking stalking is

this can lead to stalking stalking is

this can lead to stalking stalking is always subtle at first you won’t know

always subtle at first you won’t know

always subtle at first you won’t know immediately if you’re being stalked but

immediately if you’re being stalked but

immediately if you’re being stalked but it’s a serious crime and if not stopped

it’s a serious crime and if not stopped

it’s a serious crime and if not stopped immediately it can leave the victims

immediately it can leave the victims

immediately it can leave the victims feeling paranoid and alone as some of

feeling paranoid and alone as some of

feeling paranoid and alone as some of the extreme cases can result in things

the extreme cases can result in things

the extreme cases can result in things as serious as sexual assault and murder

as serious as sexual assault and murder

as serious as sexual assault and murder so this is constantly stressing parents

so this is constantly stressing parents

so this is constantly stressing parents because of how it impacts is child

because of how it impacts is child

because of how it impacts is child safety negatively we can also impact the

safety negatively we can also impact the

safety negatively we can also impact the child safety negatively is sexing to be

child safety negatively is sexing to be

child safety negatively is sexing to be honest I was only targeted once when I

honest I was only targeted once when I

honest I was only targeted once when I was in grade four my friends started

was in grade four my friends started

was in grade four my friends started using the social media site which

using the social media site which

using the social media site which allowed you to chat with any other kid

allowed you to chat with any other kid

allowed you to chat with any other kid in the world now is a very cautious

in the world now is a very cautious

in the world now is a very cautious grade for I made a fake account to

grade for I made a fake account to

grade for I made a fake account to everyone who viewed my profile I was

everyone who viewed my profile I was

everyone who viewed my profile I was amber Thompson from Iceland and I was 13

amber Thompson from Iceland and I was 13

amber Thompson from Iceland and I was 13 years old after 45 minutes of chatting

years old after 45 minutes of chatting

years old after 45 minutes of chatting with a girl my age from America i

with a girl my age from America i

with a girl my age from America i received an inappropriate message from a

received an inappropriate message from a

received an inappropriate message from a 13 year old boy now as a ten-year-old

13 year old boy now as a ten-year-old

13 year old boy now as a ten-year-old girl

girl

girl I was absolutely horrified that message

I was absolutely horrified that message

I was absolutely horrified that message was meant for 13 year old amber Thompson

was meant for 13 year old amber Thompson

was meant for 13 year old amber Thompson as sexting is seen to me more of a

as sexting is seen to me more of a

as sexting is seen to me more of a teenage thing rather than adults and

teenage thing rather than adults and

teenage thing rather than adults and girls are targeted more frequently than

girls are targeted more frequently than

girls are targeted more frequently than boys it’s unsafe for many reasons as it

boys it’s unsafe for many reasons as it

boys it’s unsafe for many reasons as it can result in stalking and we all know

can result in stalking and we all know

can result in stalking and we all know relaxing lead it’s a serious crime that

relaxing lead it’s a serious crime that

relaxing lead it’s a serious crime that if you are found sending sexual images

if you are found sending sexual images

if you are found sending sexual images online you can receive a criminal record

online you can receive a criminal record

online you can receive a criminal record which will stay with you for the rest of

which will stay with you for the rest of

which will stay with you for the rest of your life but you have to remember this

your life but you have to remember this

your life but you have to remember this generation was born into a world of

generation was born into a world of

generation was born into a world of devices and social media so just like we

devices and social media so just like we

devices and social media so just like we learn not to walk off clips in the real

learn not to walk off clips in the real

learn not to walk off clips in the real world we learn not to get ourselves into

world we learn not to get ourselves into

world we learn not to get ourselves into dangerous situations in the virtual

dangerous situations in the virtual

dangerous situations in the virtual world so these are some of those aspects

world so these are some of those aspects

world so these are some of those aspects of social media which can affect the

of social media which can affect the

of social media which can affect the child immediately but some of the

child immediately but some of the

child immediately but some of the effects of social media take time to

effects of social media take time to

effects of social media take time to show results I was talking to someone

show results I was talking to someone

show results I was talking to someone whom I hadn’t seen in three years and

whom I hadn’t seen in three years and

whom I hadn’t seen in three years and whilst i was talking to her she SAT

whilst i was talking to her she SAT

whilst i was talking to her she SAT there growing through an Instagram feed

there growing through an Instagram feed

there growing through an Instagram feed it’s just amazing how social media has

it’s just amazing how social media has

it’s just amazing how social media has affected our social and communication

affected our social and communication

affected our social and communication skills these are skills like being able

skills these are skills like being able

skills these are skills like being able to have a decent conversation Annoying

to have a decent conversation Annoying

to have a decent conversation Annoying witch body language is correct for a

witch body language is correct for a

witch body language is correct for a certain situation but the amount of

certain situation but the amount of

certain situation but the amount of sulfur and computer use has diminished

sulfur and computer use has diminished

sulfur and computer use has diminished social skills and body language sir as a

social skills and body language sir as a

social skills and body language sir as a pair and all these things obviously

pair and all these things obviously

pair and all these things obviously stress them out about social media but

stress them out about social media but

stress them out about social media but from a child’s perspective they are just

from a child’s perspective they are just

from a child’s perspective they are just as many positive aspects I was at home

as many positive aspects I was at home

as many positive aspects I was at home cooking supper and while cements was

cooking supper and while cements was

cooking supper and while cements was cooking I picked up my cell phone and

cooking I picked up my cell phone and

cooking I picked up my cell phone and went on it when my mom walked in she got

went on it when my mom walked in she got

went on it when my mom walked in she got angry and took my phone away I don’t

angry and took my phone away I don’t

angry and took my phone away I don’t think she realizes that when I’m on my

think she realizes that when I’m on my

think she realizes that when I’m on my cell phone is mainly for communicating

cell phone is mainly for communicating

cell phone is mainly for communicating with friends building my popularity and

with friends building my popularity and

with friends building my popularity and for educational purposes in this

for educational purposes in this

for educational purposes in this situation I was actually talking to

situation I was actually talking to

situation I was actually talking to someone about an issue that are popped

someone about an issue that are popped

someone about an issue that are popped up recently most of the time we use

up recently most of the time we use

up recently most of the time we use social media as a way to communicate

social media as a way to communicate

social media as a way to communicate with friends it’s a great way to keep up

with friends it’s a great way to keep up

with friends it’s a great way to keep up with family or friends that live

with family or friends that live

with family or friends that live overseas without it it’d be extremely

overseas without it it’d be extremely

overseas without it it’d be extremely hard to organize events or get homework

hard to organize events or get homework

hard to organize events or get homework details and it’s also a great platform

details and it’s also a great platform

details and it’s also a great platform for advertising small businesses as

for advertising small businesses as

for advertising small businesses as small as babysitting and dog walking

small as babysitting and dog walking

small as babysitting and dog walking however sometimes you are

however sometimes you are

however sometimes you are browsing our feet or watching funny

browsing our feet or watching funny

browsing our feet or watching funny videos of cats this is normal every

videos of cats this is normal every

videos of cats this is normal every teenager I know does this but there is a

teenager I know does this but there is a

teenager I know does this but there is a time and a place for everything and

time and a place for everything and

time and a place for everything and teenagers need to know when it’s okay to

teenagers need to know when it’s okay to

teenagers need to know when it’s okay to be on social media for pleasure and when

be on social media for pleasure and when

be on social media for pleasure and when it’s time to work I think my parents

it’s time to work I think my parents

it’s time to work I think my parents have actually given up on asking why I

have actually given up on asking why I

have actually given up on asking why I take so many photos of what I do but

take so many photos of what I do but

take so many photos of what I do but when you’re in high school one of the

when you’re in high school one of the

when you’re in high school one of the most important things is your social

most important things is your social

most important things is your social status which is connected to your

status which is connected to your

status which is connected to your reputation and both can be improved by

reputation and both can be improved by

reputation and both can be improved by social media it’s almost a way of

social media it’s almost a way of

social media it’s almost a way of proving your popularity by the amount of

proving your popularity by the amount of

proving your popularity by the amount of likes you get on a photo amount of

likes you get on a photo amount of

likes you get on a photo amount of retweets or photos you’re tagged in the

retweets or photos you’re tagged in the

retweets or photos you’re tagged in the early downside is that it’s also a great

early downside is that it’s also a great

early downside is that it’s also a great platform but creating your facade or

platform but creating your facade or

platform but creating your facade or what you want people to think your life

what you want people to think your life

what you want people to think your life is like almost as if you’re distracting

is like almost as if you’re distracting

is like almost as if you’re distracting yourself as well as the whole world from

yourself as well as the whole world from

yourself as well as the whole world from any problems you face personally which

any problems you face personally which

any problems you face personally which obviously affect the self-esteem it can

obviously affect the self-esteem it can

obviously affect the self-esteem it can be negatively because of cyberbullying

be negatively because of cyberbullying

be negatively because of cyberbullying but it can also be positively I mean we

but it can also be positively I mean we

but it can also be positively I mean we tend to feel great when we get lots of

tend to feel great when we get lots of

tend to feel great when we get lots of likes retweets or even followers I know

likes retweets or even followers I know

likes retweets or even followers I know I was ecstatic when I first got 100

I was ecstatic when I first got 100

I was ecstatic when I first got 100 likes on an Instagram post but it’s not

likes on an Instagram post but it’s not

likes on an Instagram post but it’s not something you used to bowl the positive

something you used to bowl the positive

something you used to bowl the positive self-esteem from scratch don’t use

self-esteem from scratch don’t use

self-esteem from scratch don’t use social media to give yourself a positive

social media to give yourself a positive

social media to give yourself a positive self-esteem use social media to support

self-esteem use social media to support

self-esteem use social media to support an already positive self-esteem then

an already positive self-esteem then

an already positive self-esteem then when you have a positive self-esteem you

when you have a positive self-esteem you

when you have a positive self-esteem you tend to feel happier with anything you

tend to feel happier with anything you

tend to feel happier with anything you do from things as simple as walking down

do from things as simple as walking down

do from things as simple as walking down the streets to learning new things and

the streets to learning new things and

the streets to learning new things and social media is a great platform to do

social media is a great platform to do

social media is a great platform to do so it has definitely increased the

so it has definitely increased the

so it has definitely increased the productivity of learning groups in

productivity of learning groups in

productivity of learning groups in schools and teachers business skills as

schools and teachers business skills as

schools and teachers business skills as simple as learning to maintain

simple as learning to maintain

simple as learning to maintain connections with important people it has

connections with important people it has

connections with important people it has great practice if you wish to follow an

great practice if you wish to follow an

great practice if you wish to follow an artistic career path as you would get a

artistic career path as you would get a

artistic career path as you would get a lot of experience from creating online

lot of experience from creating online

lot of experience from creating online profiles and uploading artistic work and

profiles and uploading artistic work and

profiles and uploading artistic work and we have to remember all the amazing DIY

we have to remember all the amazing DIY

we have to remember all the amazing DIY is out there and how it can improve your

is out there and how it can improve your

is out there and how it can improve your literature as getting other people’s

literature as getting other people’s

literature as getting other people’s input is a great way to increase the

input is a great way to increase the

input is a great way to increase the quality of your work it’s also a great

quality of your work it’s also a great

quality of your work it’s also a great platform for sharing and receiving

platform for sharing and receiving

platform for sharing and receiving knowledge it keeps people all around the

knowledge it keeps people all around the

knowledge it keeps people all around the world

world

world up to date with current and relevant

up to date with current and relevant

up to date with current and relevant news everywhere for social media I

news everywhere for social media I

news everywhere for social media I wouldn’t know a half of what’s going on

wouldn’t know a half of what’s going on

wouldn’t know a half of what’s going on around the world but not all information

around the world but not all information

around the world but not all information is true with things like rumors and

is true with things like rumors and

is true with things like rumors and conspiracy theories whether they are

conspiracy theories whether they are

conspiracy theories whether they are positive or negative so I suggest you

positive or negative so I suggest you

positive or negative so I suggest you check the source of your information

check the source of your information

check the source of your information before you share it yourself so when you

before you share it yourself so when you

before you share it yourself so when you get home have a chat with your parent or

get home have a chat with your parent or

get home have a chat with your parent or have a chat with your teenager tell them

have a chat with your teenager tell them

have a chat with your teenager tell them that you understand their views and then

that you understand their views and then

that you understand their views and then explain yours and after that I suggest

explain yours and after that I suggest

explain yours and after that I suggest you have some sort of agreement on where

you have some sort of agreement on where

you have some sort of agreement on where you want to set the boundaries I had

you want to set the boundaries I had

you want to set the boundaries I had this chat with my mom and afterwards the

this chat with my mom and afterwards the

this chat with my mom and afterwards the boundaries were I wasn’t allowing my

boundaries were I wasn’t allowing my

boundaries were I wasn’t allowing my cell phone off 28 on the school night

cell phone off 28 on the school night

cell phone off 28 on the school night when i get home i have half an hour to

when i get home i have half an hour to

when i get home i have half an hour to do whatever i want and when i’m with

do whatever i want and when i’m with

do whatever i want and when i’m with family I’m not allowed to be on social

family I’m not allowed to be on social

family I’m not allowed to be on social media at all I’m sure you’ll find it’s a

media at all I’m sure you’ll find it’s a

media at all I’m sure you’ll find it’s a lot easier than you thought it would be

lot easier than you thought it would be

lot easier than you thought it would be and then all around tension is avoided

and then all around tension is avoided

and then all around tension is avoided in the long run because technology is

in the long run because technology is

in the long run because technology is changing generations are changing the

changing generations are changing the

changing generations are changing the world is changing and we are letting it

world is changing and we are letting it

world is changing and we are letting it but the connection between parents and

but the connection between parents and

but the connection between parents and their children are changing as well and

their children are changing as well and

their children are changing as well and this we can simply not allow

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *