Social media and networking have slowly but surely become an integral part of the society we live in today. This type of technology is used in our daily lives as people strive to stay connected with family and friends, whether by checking reviews of favorite restaurants, inviting friends to parties, or looking at photos of recent outings. Whatever the reasons for using these sites, this fairly new way of staying “in the know” has also become a key component in the development of children and adolescents living today. When it comes to technology, especially social media, there is a huge responsibility to use it safely and securely. There are always risks that prove to be a threat to people using social media sites. Whether it's Match.com or Facebook, spreading our information across the cyber world can be a dangerous idea if not handled properly. So how can we make sure we are safe with what we share, while also trying to teach our children and teenagers to be safe? There are some benefits that can come from teenagers' use of social media, but ultimately, the negative impact it has on our children/teens and the danger it poses to them is much more evident than the benefits. With the use of social networks by teenagers, things like cyberbullying, driving while using the phone and, most importantly, the loss of the real world because the focus on the technological one is too great occurs. All of these things can hinder the social development process of our children and adolescents. When using social media sites, especially as teenagers, online bullying is an implication of what comes from online networking between... middle of paper... ....Lohmann, R. (2012, September 24 ). 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-driving-deadly-decisionSantrock, J. W. (2014). Adolescence (fifteenth ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.Santrock, J. W. (2009). Development across the lifespan (12th ed.). Boston, Massachusetts: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.Schurgin-O'Keeffe, G., & Clarke-Pearson, K. (2011, April 1). 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: Looking Up. Retrieved 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/