Social media and networks have slowly but surely become an integral part of the society in which we live today. This type of technology is used in our daily lives, as people strive to stay in touch with family and friends, checking reviews of their favorite restaurants, inviting friends to parties, or looking at photos of recent outings. Whatever the reasons for using these sites, this relatively new way of staying "in the know" has also become a key element in the development of children and adolescents living today. When it comes to technology, especially social media, there is a heavy responsibility to use it safely. There are always risks that pose a threat to people who use social media sites. Whether it's Match.com or Facebook, putting our information out into the cyber world can be a dangerous idea if not handled properly. So how can we make sure we're safe with what we share, while trying to teach our children and teens to be safe too? Social media use may bring some benefits to adolescent development, but ultimately the negative impact it has on our children/teens and the danger it poses to them far outweighs the benefits. Teens' use of social media leads to things like cyberbullying, driving while using their phones, and most importantly, missing out on the real world because too much focus is on the technological world . All of these things can hinder the social development process of our children and adolescents. When using social media sites, especially as a teenager, online bullying is an implication of what comes with online networks between...... middle of paper. ....Lohmann, R. (September 24, 2012). Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness Texting and Driving: A Deadly Decision | Psychology today. Retrieved May 5, 2014, from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/teen-angst/201209/texting-and-riving-deadly-decisionSantrock, J. W. (2014). Adolescence (Fifteenth ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Santrock, J. W. (2009). Lifespan Development (12th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Schurgin-O'Keeffe, G. and Clarke-Pearson, K. (April 1, 2011). Pediatrics. The impact of social media on children, adolescents and families. Retrieved May 4, 2014, from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/127/4/800.full#sec-6.Turk, G. PetFlow Blog: Video: Search Up. Accessed May 5, 2014, from http://blog.petflow.com/this-is-a-video-everyone-needs-to-see-for-the-first-time-in-my-life-im-speechless/