Australia has recently banned the use of social media for kids under 16 years. Popular actor Arjun Bijlani who was last seen in Zee TV’s Pyaar Ka Pehla Adhyaya Shiv Shakti, is in support of this move. He says that this would help young kids not get addicted to social media at such an early age.
“I also have a child and I feel that till the time we can keep our kids away from the evils of social media, we should. While social media has a lot of positive points, the negative side of it is so grave that it outweighs everything. Kids can get so addicted to social media and that is not good for their mental health. It can lead to feelings of anxiety, jealousy and even sadness, and that is not good,” he says.
Social media can impact the future of adolescent youth negatively, he says, adding, “I don’t want kids to live under the pressure of having to post something all the time. This can be misused by so many and be a threat to their security. The minds of teenagers are not developed to the extent that they can discern what is right and what is wrong, and this is why the decision to not let them use social media is good. It might be extreme, but it is a good decision.”
Ask him how he views his decision as a parent, and he says, “I would want my child to enjoy social media, but only at an age when he can handle things. I feel that while this decision might be extreme, it is the only way to ensure safety. Plus social media can add a lot of stress even in adults, so I cannot even imagine what it would do to kids.”
Talking about how he uses social media, he says, “I draw a clear line between what I want to show and what is personal to me. Social media is an excellent tool to connect with your fans, and that is what I love. But some things are just meant for my family, and I like to keep it that way.”
Well said, Arjun!!
