School Down Time May Equal Screen & Social Media Up Time… How To Protect Our Kids
BY JENNIFER BURLINGAME, DO
There are so many unknowns in the weeks ahead. Each day will bring new challenges and information. I have faith that the healthcare system and our government will find a way to come out of this with insight and hope for our future. While I grappled with our new reality and tried to create some sense of normalcy for my three kids, I couldn’t help but consider other negative outcomes that could occur during this time off.
Typically, our kids would be in school, then likely in after school activities. There are the typical things we worry about as parent, but normally we can trust that they are in the care of our educators and being led down productive paths. Now our kids will be home all day. They inevitably will be on screens more than usual. Maybe as much as they are during the summer, but this isn’t typical for March. Sadly, a thought has crossed my mind I felt compelled to share.
While our kids may be on screens and social media more often to interact with friends, work on school apps, or gaming, there are those in our world that see this as an opportunity to prey on the innocent. They see it as a time to find ways into your children’s personal space. Invading bedrooms simply by sending a message to intrigue your child, these disingenuous messages make kids feel good about themselves. Predators then sneak their way in, and thereafter, they find ways to coerce, abuse, and take advantage of our children.
I wish we could make it impossible for child predators to have access to our children through phones, ipads, etc. I want to find a way to keep them out of all kid’s lives. By ensuring our kids’ devices are content restricted and social media accounts are screened and privatized, we as parents will be safeguarding our children ensuring the general public does not have access to their information or pictures. As parents, none of us want our children being vulnerable to child predators, but are we doing what is necessary to keep our children safe?
The reality is social media and the use of screens are an unavoidable and integral part of this generation’s childhood. What Mayo Clinic states is critical, however, is that our children understand appropriate behavior while on screens and while on social media. Transparency and being clear about setting boundaries will help protect your child.
This is a good time to teach kids about cyberbullying, sexting, sharing personal info with strangers and opening communication with you. Help them see that they should only put something online that they would allow the whole world to see. If anyone asks them to do otherwise, they should talk to a trusted adult—someone they have chosen that they feel comfortable going to with sensitive and important information.
According to Mayo Clinic “No matter how smart or mature you feel your child is, monitor his or her online and social media behavior. Your child is bound to make mistakes using media. Talk to your child and help him or her learn from them.” I could not have said that better. I strongly encourage every parent to communicate with their children about these issues. Below are directions on how to content restrict common devices. My hope is that you will take a moment or two in the next week to check your child’s iPhone, iPad, computer, Android or Google phone, Chromebook, or whatever your child uses for internet and social media usage, and restrict it to age appropriate material. Find ways to screen social media your children are using. The most predatory apps according to Newsweek are Snap Chat, TikTok, Ask.fm, Yubo, Whisper, and Blendr, just to name a few. Our kids are depending on us to protect them from the predators of the world, and I hope this information helped you find ways to start the process of doing so. You are your child’s best defense.
Jennifer Burlingame, DO is a family medicine physician with Ascension