This archive report was first published on 18 September 2019.
The Digital Age: A New Reality for Parents ¶
Published on September 18, 2019, a video posted by a teenager on Instagram sparked a conversation about the access children have to the internet. The video raised questions about how much access children should have to the internet and how parents can ensure their children's safety in the digital age.
With the increasing demands of providing for the family, it's often impossible for working parents to be physically present at home whenever their children are. However, this doesn't mean they can't be emotionally and intellectually available for their children. By being remotely present, parents can understand and connect with their children even when they are away from home.
Many parents have resorted to buying their children cellphones with communication applications like Skype, WhatsApp, and Messenger to allow them to communicate with their children whenever they are away. However, this also opens a window for other people to reach their children, including strangers, cyberbullies, and ill-intentioned predators.
Monitoring social media accounts and limiting exposure to the internet may not be enough anymore. Children are finding ways to beat their parents' systems, creating multiple accounts to post 'innocent' things while hiding their true online activities. It's time for parents to have conversations with their children about the consequences of viewing and posting inappropriate content online.
Parents need to consider the effects of negative interactions through social media on their children's emotional health and social well-being. Children and adolescents are especially susceptible to these negative interactions, and parents must provide guidance to help them navigate the digital world.
As adults, we can handle the feelings that come from social media interactions, but children are ill-equipped to do so. It's time for parents to have open and honest conversations with their children about the digital age and its implications.
