With the average preschooler now more able to play a video game than ride a bike or tie a shoe, and with three-quarters of all middle school- and high
school-age kids already owning a phone, it's an increasingly difficult
question for today's digital parent to answer. And it might not even be the most meaningful one.
From growing issues like
cyberbullying, cyberbaiting and sexting to rising concerns over Internet
safety, cybercrime, and the over-sharing of personal information
online, today's family clearly faces a uniquely 21st-century set of
digital challenges.
For families in today's
rampantly digital world, perhaps the better question is: What are we
doing to prepare kids for life in an age of 24/7 connectivity? With 70%
of parents believing that schools should do more to educate children
about online safety and four-fifths of teachers agreeing that more
in-school programs of its type are needed, the answer may be "not nearly
enough."
For parents trying to
raise kids and give them the technology to be successful, yet also
protect them, there's a sense that no one's there to tell folks what
steps to take. Schools maybe distributing information and educating (families),
but ultimately, parents have a huge role to play (in the process).
Today's kids are being
trained to use every gadget imaginable but not to consider those
devices' extraordinary impact -- good and bad -- on our lives. Given the
speed at which technology moves and how slow parents have been to
react, a lot of them must play catchup.
The biggest threat on
the Internet today is parents that are not involved in their children's
use of technology. It takes a unified effort to keep kids safe on the Internet (that) has
to begin with parents, because it has to start really young. But laying the
responsibility for teaching digital citizenship solely at families' feet
would be a mistake. It also has to be a part of ongoing
education. Kids as young as 2 now commonly use
smartphones and other technological devices.
Capable of enlightening
nations and empowering individuals, the Web can be an energizing force
for good. But with this power comes responsibility. Consider the meteoric rise of social networks and how they shape our children's experiences. Only six years ago, before Facebook opened to the general public, the term "friend" typically described neighborhood pals and schoolmates. Today, it can just as
easily reference hundreds of peers, potential crushes or even random
strangers. Our kids interact online with these people, some of whom we
will never meet.
Of course, social
networks can also be a perfectly safe and fun way for teens to share
ideas and form healthy relationships. It's all in how they're used. But when it comes to technology's evolving platforms and ethical codes,
parents don't always know best. Adults struggle to keep up with the
shifting rules of online etiquette and information sharing. Some
parents are also actively lying to help underage kids join Facebook and other
networks, unwittingly exposing them to online bullying.
Alas, no nationally
recognized standard or training system exists to teach kids how to
navigate the Web. A formalized online-safety course structure and
digital-citizenship certification program could be the answer. Under such a scenario,
starting at the pre-K level, experts would provide hands-on in-school
instruction using tablets, touchscreen PCs and Web browsers. Take-home
worksheets, online tutorials and interactive activities (delivered via
app, downloadable guide or website) could provide added teaching and
discussion points for families.
Online forums could
connect parents and kids to technology and health-care professionals.
And experts could build a database of answers to common tech-safety
questions for parents. That would only be the
beginning, however. One logical next step would be creating a network of
local chapters capable of providing support for families facing issues
like cyberbullying and Web addiction. The big question is no longer whether these guides will be introduced. Experts say it's simply when.
We should encourage creating a holistic "culture of responsibility" when it
comes to educating children about Internet safety. Under such a
scenario, multiple aspects of society all contribute to keeping kids
safe. Such a program starts at
the top, with the government creating laws and providing a safe
framework for families. It also includes members of law enforcement
doing their part to monitor and catch online predators.
But while educators can stay ahead of Web trends and help guide kids to safety, they can't do it alone. It's ultimately
up to parents and their children to maintain running conversations,
establish house rules and make wise choices on the Web. With technology
entrenched in our lives, we can no longer afford to simply ignore this.
The Internet's potential to improve our kids' lives is boundless. But
leaving children, and their parents, unprepared to navigate its pitfalls
just doesn't compute.
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