Every parent should be worried
At the rate at which inappropriate content randomly pops up on personal timelines on social media platforms, all parents of underaged children should be worried. Not to be an alarmist, but be very worried because your child is being exposed to explicit content containing violence, sexual content and all manner of crime on the internet that you cannot even fathom.
If your minor child has access to a cellphone and internet connectivity day and night, have you ever wondered what they are viewing on the internet. They do not have to search for it, because opportunists that perpetuate illegal activities behind hidden identities online have made it easy for such content to flood the internet. This is a cautionary message, especially that schools are now closed and many parents will be away from unsupervised children for extended periods of time during the day. Though aware of the dangers, some parents still believe that the benefits of the internet out weight the risks. Otherwise, they would be taking devices from children or at least monitoring the use.
While the benefits are quite significant, it is unfortunate for parents who overlook the risks their children are exposed to. The tendency on the side of parents is to be naïve to believe that their children are accessing only safe content and therefore are reluctant to keep a close eye. Some parents even vow that theirs would never entertain such inappropriate content, totally disregarding the curiosity of young minds.
Sometimes parents fear being labeled controlling, unreasonable and uncivilized by their children, other parents and society at large. But isn’t it what parents should do, ‘control’ their children? Yes, parents should keep their children on a leash, for their good! The undisputable fact is that as children become more active online, especially in the era of digitization, the possibility and probability that they will see something inappropriate is extremely high. Whether it’s an explicit pop-up advert on a free game, videos showcasing children’s cartoon characters in adult situations, or a forum promoting self-harm, an innocent search can expose children to content that can upset and confuse them. It is difficult though, to monitor what your child is viewing as they can access this material through any internet-enabled device, including mobile ones such as a phone or tablet.Sometimes your child may stumble upon unsuitable sites by accident, through apps they have downloaded to their mobile device or through links they have been sent by friends, chatting to others online, or even through inter-device communication systems such as Bluetooth or Apple’s AirDrop. If you believe that your child cannot live without a device, at least prepare them for what they might see to ensure that they know how to deal with it if they see something they should not. During this school break, find productive activities that may include sport, remedial lessons, and others that can occupy your child, in an effort to reduce the time they spend on the internet.