We all know the influence technology has on the world today, especially our youth.

Now I know that giving your little three year old an iPad helps keep them occupied when you want to get some shopping done or need some time to relax and this may be an unpopular opinion, but I think doing this without moderation creates a dependency on them.

As a child, I didn't have an actual internet working phone until I was like 16...The first phone I had looked like this

I could have a total of four contacts and two of them had to be my parents! I wasn't upset though, I was stoked to have this little thing and my one friend as my contact, that I could call. It gave me sense of freedom, but I wasn't exposed. Exposed to all of the things social media holds. Working with young kids as young as 5 to as old as 17 and having nieces and nephews has let me get an inside look on what damage occurs when they have smartphones at such a susceptible age.

Allowing preteens and teenagers to have devices that have internet access leaves them open to mature content and hinders their social development. With their eyes glued to the screen they lose that authenticity of human interaction. Teenagers now are wearing excessive amounts of makeup and racy clothing because they see girls on their Instagram feed doing the same thing. I see young girls with their shirts rolled up or tied in the back to make their stomachs more visible. They're growing up way to fast. When I was 13 I wore Bobby Jack, gouchos and tried to match my dollar store eyeliner with the color of my shirt.

Young ladies are not the only culprits of this new age, boys might be just a little bit worse. Talking about their male parts, what they did with them or will do with them. Another side effect of consuming mature content that they see on Youtube videos and comments on social media. It's like a never ending cycle!

Don't get me wrong I know that cellphones are helpful. For example, if your child has to walk home from school or is away for long periods of time BUT this why you can opt for cellphones that allow them to make calls and texts but prohibit internet access. I think many parents view the use of cellphones as harmless, but I truly think they are not as great as they seem. Even adults are starting to become dependent on their smartphones. I see so many parents backing out of a parking spot checking Facebook instead of their rear view mirror or moms in my neighborhood whipping the corner phone in hand with Facebook lighting up their faces.

Not only do children need too be safe from the online world and the troubles that troll it, but parents need to set a great example for them. Limit phone time and add more time together. Life is too short to be consumed in the vices of the internet and what everyone else is doing. Kids, pre-teens, and teens need to go back to doing just that. Play outside together, be active, have fun. Instagram and Snapchat will always be there. I promise growing up too fast isn't the way to go!