Statistics show that social media platforms have caused a devastating
effect in the mental well-being of our children. Yesterday, Florida Governor
Ron DeSantis signed a bill that would ban children under
the age of 14 from having social media accounts in our state. Florida lawmakers
added that social media notifications and auto-play videos are some of the most
addictive social media features for teens. The measure is bill is slated to
take effect in early 2025 barring any lawsuits.
Whether or not you agree with this measure, there is no doubt that smartphones allow immediate access to our kids each day right in their own homes. Reality is that drug dealers use social media platforms as a way to expand reach and create new markets to target new clients. Deadly fake pills, laced with fentanyl and methamphetamine, can be sold online to unsuspecting teens, young adults, and older Americans who think they are buying the real thing.
Parents and caregivers must be aware of the very real dangers associated with smartphone use, guide and monitor their children’s social media, and know how popular social media apps work:
*Have frequent conversations with teens about how selling, buying, or using substances offered or sold online is illegal and potentially dangerous
*Apps that are encrypted (Signal, WhatsApp, Line, Viber, Telegram) or apps where messages disappear after a short time (SnapChat, Instagram vanish mode) can be a way for young people to buy and sell pills.
*Teens know how to
get around app rules by using emojis and ever-changing slang. Here are a few
common emoji codes for drugs that you should be aware of…
Learn more on the
Drug Enforcement
Administration’s informative site
https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2022-03/20220208-DEA_Social%20Media%20Drug%20Trafficking%20Threat%20Overview.pdf
No comments:
Post a Comment