--- title: Social media is killing / saving us [delete as applicable] description: "The perils of social media are never far from the front pages, and this Safer Internet Day is no exception, as the government announces plans to ban firms that don’t work harder to remove harmful content. Of course, there’s more to it than regulation, but rather than add to the column inches, this ‘blog in […] Share this post: Print Tweet WhatsApp More Telegram Share on Tumblr Pocket" --- Broadband and so much more: [ Get Connected with LGfL > ](https://lgfl.net/smartbuy/broadband) ## Safeguarding Blog [Safeguarding Blog](https://safeblog.lgfl.net) [Curriculum Blog](https://curriculumblog.lgfl.net) # Social media is killing / saving us [delete as applicable] [ Admin ](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/author/admin) Feb 4, 2019 2:00:24 PM The perils of social media are never far from the front pages, and this Safer Internet Day is no exception, as the government announces plans to [ban firms that don’t work harder to remove harmful content.](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47019912) Of course, there’s more to it than regulation, but rather than add to the column inches, this ‘blog in quotes’ is a reminder of the best and worst of young people’s online lives – in their own words (from [Hopes & Streams](https://hopesandstreams.lgfl.net)). Just be sure to scroll to the end! ## The problem – it’s everywhere - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/violent-3-1-Mar-29-2022-03-12-56-70-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=violent-3-1-Mar-29-2022-03-12-56-70-PM.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/sending-images-3-1-Mar-29-2022-03-13-05-36-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=sending-images-3-1-Mar-29-2022-03-13-05-36-PM.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/sending-images-2-1-Mar-29-2022-03-13-02-81-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=sending-images-2-1-Mar-29-2022-03-13-02-81-PM.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/vid-chat-quote-5-1-Mar-29-2022-03-12-29-88-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=vid-chat-quote-5-1-Mar-29-2022-03-12-29-88-PM.jpg) ## Porn and violence - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/violent-Mar-29-2022-03-13-00-36-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=violent-Mar-29-2022-03-13-00-36-PM.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/porn-1-Mar-29-2022-03-12-46-04-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=porn-1-Mar-29-2022-03-12-46-04-PM.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/violent-2-Mar-29-2022-03-12-47-12-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=violent-2-Mar-29-2022-03-12-47-12-PM.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/porn-3-Mar-29-2022-03-12-57-51-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=porn-3-Mar-29-2022-03-12-57-51-PM.jpg) ## It isn’t always what we expect - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/general-negative-6-4.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=general-negative-6-4.jpg) ## Grown-ups don’t always get it - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/reporting-1-Mar-29-2022-03-13-04-96-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=reporting-1-Mar-29-2022-03-13-04-96-PM.jpg) ## Reporting isn’t always effective - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/reporting-2-Mar-29-2022-03-12-59-35-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=reporting-2-Mar-29-2022-03-12-59-35-PM.jpg) ## Mental health is taking a big hit ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/reporting-5-1024x747-Mar-29-2022-03-12-44-51-PM.jpg) ## Self-harm is rife and even used for bullying - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/online-friends-4-1-Mar-29-2022-03-13-04-46-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=online-friends-4-1-Mar-29-2022-03-13-04-46-PM.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/general-negative-2-Mar-29-2022-03-12-53-00-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=general-negative-2-Mar-29-2022-03-12-53-00-PM.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/mental-health-2-Mar-29-2022-03-12-58-69-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=mental-health-2-Mar-29-2022-03-12-58-69-PM.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/mental-health-3-Mar-29-2022-03-13-05-83-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=mental-health-3-Mar-29-2022-03-13-05-83-PM.jpg) ## But there is so much that is good. For a start, often others DO help! - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/reporting-7-4.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=reporting-7-4.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/reporting-3-Mar-29-2022-03-12-50-61-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=reporting-3-Mar-29-2022-03-12-50-61-PM.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/general-positive-11-4.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=general-positive-11-4.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/mental-health-6-Mar-29-2022-03-15-41-73-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=mental-health-6-Mar-29-2022-03-15-41-73-PM.jpg) ## And they love things like this - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/general-positive-1-4.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=general-positive-1-4.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/general-positive-2-Mar-29-2022-03-12-39-40-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=general-positive-2-Mar-29-2022-03-12-39-40-PM.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/general-positive-3-Mar-29-2022-03-12-28-09-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=general-positive-3-Mar-29-2022-03-12-28-09-PM.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/general-positive-4-Mar-29-2022-03-12-23-10-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=general-positive-4-Mar-29-2022-03-12-23-10-PM.jpg) ## Social media can bring together those who wouldn’t otherwise meet - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/vid-chat-quote-3-Mar-29-2022-03-12-38-06-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=vid-chat-quote-3-Mar-29-2022-03-12-38-06-PM.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/mental-health-5-Mar-29-2022-03-13-00-90-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=mental-health-5-Mar-29-2022-03-13-00-90-PM.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/sending-images-4-Mar-29-2022-03-12-53-35-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=sending-images-4-Mar-29-2022-03-12-53-35-PM.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/online-friends-2-Mar-29-2022-03-12-46-70-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=online-friends-2-Mar-29-2022-03-12-46-70-PM.jpg) ## Even gaming can be positive; even families can benefit from video chat - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/online-friends-1-Mar-29-2022-03-13-07-92-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=online-friends-1-Mar-29-2022-03-13-07-92-PM.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/general-positive-3-Mar-29-2022-03-12-28-09-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=general-positive-3-Mar-29-2022-03-12-28-09-PM.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/mental-health-5-Mar-29-2022-03-13-00-90-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=mental-health-5-Mar-29-2022-03-13-00-90-PM.jpg) - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/vid-chat-quote-1-Mar-29-2022-03-12-51-43-PM.jpg?width=1024&height=747&name=vid-chat-quote-1-Mar-29-2022-03-12-51-43-PM.jpg) ## CONCLUSION The internet is an amplifier of good and bad: the output can be amazing or horrendous, depending on the input. This Safer Internet Day, let’s remember the positive, but commit to tackling the negative with a mixture of government intervention, industry investment and self-improvement (time, money and moderation), and lots of education (for young people and adults). Remembering of course that all of those will be so much more effective if based on the voice of the young person. “That makes me happy and great.” To find out what we found out… read [Hopes & Streams](https://hopesandstreams.lgfl.net). - ![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/delkj-2.jpg) ### Share this post: - [Print](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/2019/02/social-media-is-killing-saving-us-delete-as-applicable/) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) - [WhatsApp](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/2019/02/social-media-is-killing-saving-us-delete-as-applicable/?share=jetpack-whatsapp) - [![](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/pinit_fg_en_rect_gray_20-Mar-29-2022-03-16-08-01-PM.png)](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsafeblog.lgfl.net%2F2019%2F02%2Fsocial-media-is-killing-saving-us-delete-as-applicable%2F&media=https%3A%2F%2Fsafeblog.lgfl.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F01%2Fviolent-3-1.jpg&description=Social%20media%20is%20killing%20%2F%20saving%20us%20%5Bdelete%20as%20applicable%5D) - [More](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/2019/02/social-media-is-killing-saving-us-delete-as-applicable#) - [Telegram](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/2019/02/social-media-is-killing-saving-us-delete-as-applicable/?share=telegram) - [Share on Tumblr](https://www.tumblr.com/share) - [Pocket](https://getpocket.com/save) [safeguarding: online & beyond](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/tag/safeguarding-online-beyond) ### Subscribe to our blog Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts. ## Read On ### [GDPR and social media ages – why does it matter Here’s a holiday treat – rather than a blog post from me, a recommendation of a fantastic blog by...](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/2017/07/gdpr-and-social-media-ages-why-does-it-matter) ### [Life online for a Year 8 pupil Having learned so much from the 40,000 pupils who took part in our online safety survey earlier...](https://safeblog.lgfl.net/2018/12/life-online-for-a-year-8-pupil) ### [Calling time on screen time!? 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