Social media is definitely a blessing and a curse. For teens especially I think social media is much more of a curse. However, it can be really hard to stay off of social media because that's how you hear about things going on in people's lives and the latest trends. That is unless you're incentivized with $1,800 like this Minnesota teen.

Sivert Klefsaas of Motley, Minnesota was 12 when his mom, Lorna, heard about another mom who had done a '16 for 16 challenge'. All it was, was if her daughter made it to the age of 16 before getting any social media account, her mom would give her $1,600. Lorna decided to up the ante a little and did her own '18 for 18 challenge' with her son.

So at the age of 12, Sivert was told that if he stayed off of social media until he was 18 then his mom would give him $1,800. And he made it! This past weekend was Sivert's 18th birthday and his mom upheld her end of the bargain and gifted him $1,800.

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Sivert spoke with KARE 11 about not being on social media as a teen when all of his friends were. He said that he's glad he didn't get social media until now because he'd hear from his friends "‘oh somebody said this about you’ and ‘oh somebody did that.'" But he didn't have to see any of it, which is obviously good for a person's mental health.

He did however get an Instagram account this weekend. He says he feels like an 80-year-old trying to figure out how to use social media but his friends help him out.

I find this challenge really interesting! I'd be tempted to do something similar for future kids. Social media, especially today, can be extremely detrimental to a person's well-being. If you're able to put off having them get a social media until they're older and mature enough to handle it, I think that's a great idea.

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