Social media has its obvious benefits and drawbacks for everyone. But it hits different in teenage years. Teens get very social and naturally spend more time on their phones. However, it may become a serious addiction or exacerbate some serious mental problems. And so, parents try to think of some ways to help their teenage kids get through this tricky period without making the problems worse through social media.
Now, straight up forbidding someone to do something won't really work. Lorna Goldstrand Klefsaas found a more acceptable upbringing approach. Knowing that her 12-year-old son was very competitive, she gave him a challenge: if he didn't use social media until he turned 18, he'd get 18 hundred dollars in return. Sivert accepted the challenge. Here's how it went.
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When Sivert Klefsaas turned 12, his mother gave him a challenge to stay off of social media for 6 years
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In return, if he's successful, he'd get $1,800 dollars for his 18th birthday
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Surprisingly, the 4 years went by without any major temptations or dark moments. Sivert just wasn't used to social media before the challenge, so he didn't think he was missing out on much. "I wouldn't say there was ever a time where I thought I was about to break. As it went on, it was more of a pride thing."
As with all teenagers, the years flew by, and Sivert came of age
And drumroll...
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He successfully completed the challenge and received 18 hundred dollars
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Funnily enough, Sivert hasn't put much thought into what he's going to buy
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He's probably going to buy something for his dorm room for a university that he's going to attend in fall
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Lorna, Sivert's mom isn't against her son using social media, or anyone else for that matter. "We are certainly not against social media, but it’s the healthy using of it,” Lorna noted. “It’s about not letting yourself get weighed down by it, or addicted to it, or affected by things that people post."
The challenge had some great side benefits: the kid focused on sports and studying instead of lurking on the socials
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Sivert mentioned that his first social media app that he looks forward to using is Instagram
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It's looking like Sivert's set up for a bright future
Image credits: lornatravels