Hayley Durant's Use Of Social Media Essay

Long days at the park, hours playing neighborhood baseball, and care-free nights tucked in before nine all reminisce one thing: childhood. Or ideally, what most childhoods look like. However, in reality social media has stripped young adults of this buoyant phase by introducing them to the grim critics of the world. Consequently, this has caused children to care more about their outward appearances, and led to the development of mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, and loneliness. In an article by slick magazine, Hayley Durant argues against social media in childhood using rhetorical devices by addressing its dangers and ability to manipulate. To convince parents to not allow their children to download social media, Durant begins

With a constant online presence, citing 8-12 hours a day, Durant says that the parents of these children “do not know the future effects of being forced to grow up”, especially since the “children's brains are still developing” (para 3). This appeal to logic helps parents reason that presenting social media in childhood may cause negative, unintended effects. Likewise, she persuades her audience that waiting to introduce this technology will help kids to enjoy their childhood, a sentiment every thoughtful parent easily identifies with and shares. Additionally, Durant’s contrasting imagery illustrates social media's influence on childhood. She asserts that “kids should spend time with their friends, family, or outside”, instead of allowing social media to cause them to “worry about their appeal towards others or have the pressure of a perfect life” (Durant, para 8). Her vivid details allow parents to envision the conflict of today's media overshadowing a normal childhood. In addition, this evidence causes parents to reflect on their decisions to allow their children to access these apps, which burden them with demands to act and look a certain way. To her point, Durant’s argument helps parents to recognize the influence outside perception has on a child, and how it

While bullying remains an unsolved problem in today's youth, Durant demonstrates how social media has intensified this issue by writing, “many people throughout their lives have experienced bullying, but even more, have experienced cyber bullying” (Durant, para 6). Amplification of this childhood torture exaggerates how social media has ruined childhood. Her appeal to the morals of parents allows them to see that this technology has taken bullying out of just the school yards. Likewise, it characterizes cyber bullying as a lurking shadow that makes it impossible for children to escape and focus on the joys of youth. With social media bringing this online hate to the homes of these hurting children, Durant strengthens her claim that social media is unsafe for childhood. In addition, Durant’s metaphor helps parents picture the menace of social media. Durant compares spending time on such apps to falling “through a dark hole of disturbing content” (para2). Imagery from the metaphor illustrates how this technology can trap children in a cycle that consistently exposes them to atrocious and inappropriate content. Consequently, this raises awareness on the severe effects of this information, and how allowing kids to get such apps in childhood leaves them defenseless to what might come their way on these platforms. Therefore, delaying the introduction of these apps will keep children safe,