While technology has opened up wonderful potential for learning and connectivity, giving children free rein to the web and social media platforms is similar to handing them the keys to a motor car before they can ride a bike. There are many hidden dangers, and below we look at a few of them.
Social media platforms are designed to be addictive – even adults find it difficult to resist the constant dopamine spikes from likes, comments, and shares. For young brains, it can be especially damaging. Kids are comparing their real lives to everyone else's, and it causes them anxiety, depression, and some serious self-esteem problems. Having to maintain an online persona on top of already navigating the rough waters of adolescence is a recipe for mental health problems.
Cybernews, the biggest cybersecurity news website, has a review of the best parental control app for Android, which speaks volumes about just how bad this issue has gotten.
Research continuously indicates that overuse of social media directly relates to higher incidences of depression and anxiety among youth. If your own sense of worth is based on acceptance online, it's a setup for emotional turmoil.
Here is where it becomes downright frightening. The web is filled with people with malicious intent against children. Predators have become highly sophisticated in how they interact and groom young victims on the web, using online games, social networks, and instant messaging applications to build trust before abuse.
Children are simply not yet experienced enough to be able to spot manipulation moves or realize that the "14-year-old" they are talking to could be a 40-year-old with ill motives. Without adequate supervision and education, children can quickly end up in risky situations that will have a lasting impact.
Remember when children used to be able to sit for an entire film without glancing at their phones? Those days are becoming fewer and farther in between. Persistent connectivity is rewiring young minds for quick payoffs and limited focus. It makes it more difficult for them to concentrate on schoolwork, have meaningful conversations, or even appreciate things that do not include instant stimulation.
The phenomenon is not anecdotal – studies indicate that excessive use of the internet is linked to lowered capacity to focus and process information in-depth. This can have serious effects on academic achievement and critical thinking capacities.
The internet lacks an age verification gate. Kids can click on violent, sexual, or otherwise objectionable content within seconds. Even with so-called safe search parameters, objectionable content manages to slip through. This kind of exposure can traumatize and confuse young minds that are not yet ready to handle this type of content.
This is not locking our kids in a tech-free tower until age 18. The goal is healthy boundaries and teaching digital literacy skills. Setting limits on time, using parental controls, having open-ended conversations about experiences online, and living excellent digital lives are all key activities.
The internet is a wonderful resource, but like all powerful resources, it must be used wisely. Our children deserve to have a childhood with the access to benefits that technology has to offer and without losing sight of the less favorable aspects.
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