The Hindu Sunday Magazine carried an article titled “Children of the Web” written by “Divya Gandhi.” It had an interesting take on web intrusion in children’s lives and how social media is structuring the mindset of its young users.
A young mind is always impressionable and in those formative years if a child is exposed to content that is not regulated and safe for a child then, it has adverse effect on their mental makeup.
In the initial days, when Facebook had been introduced and a few years had passed; I had joined it and found that it was disturbing to use the channel. I did not like the constant craving for red numbers in a blue circle indicating a response to my post or my activity.
The more I craved for the numbers and the less social approval I got, I could not justify that my thoughts were refined and above par. Then, for almost ten years, I had no social media account except for LinkedIn where I never posted anything. I was not a child when I understood my addiction. I fear for the innocent child of this era.
Delay, Distance, Demystify – The Three D’s
I would like to quote Doctor Shelja Sen’s recommendation of following the three D’s rules going forward to prevent early use of smartphones. To quote from the article…
Three Ds for parents
For parents, Dr. Sen recommends three Ds as a way forward: “Delay giving children smartphones until they are at least 15. Distance all gadgets at home and make them less accessible for fidgety fingers and minds. And demystify them by making healthy Internet use a necessary part of the school curriculum.”
~ Quote From Article by Divya Gandhi titled Children of the Web
The Hindu Magazine Sunday Paper
After the pandemic people are worried, stressed, and have a short fuse. Especially the parents who must make ends meet and care about the children’s educational and other needs, their guilt over not spending enough time with them and much more.
All the above factors add up and provide a scenario that is headed towards a not so rosy picture of the future. Delaying till 15 years will be a feat that is hard to accomplish. It is partly due to the external factors surrounding the situation where internet usage is used as a means for distraction.
The level of stress in relationships and in immersing of social media puts an added pressure on an already pressured situation. The article spoke one-sidedly of the children’s predicament but left the door of solution unopened. As an awareness generating article it truly brought to light what happens is inappropriate lack of moral promise unmet.
Web and the Moral Promise to Its Users
The Web provides information at an instant, but even an adult cannot find out whether the information provided is true or false. Then, expecting a child to be an exemplary discerning adult trapped in a young mind – is asking for too much!
For instance, Netflix uses separate accounts for Children so that the shows and series are child-friendly to view. Children are the best tester of any application because they are not logically trying to open apps but trying various options until a display to distract occurs.
The case where a child discovers more options than the parents of the said Smartphones. When the child seeks attention and is not given it – there begins the discord. Then, it is time to get the child involved in an activity that would help it.
Delaying Might be A Good Idea But Not Feasible
The delaying of usage of smartphones when the parent is involved in using it at frequent time. Or handing the phone to the child so a few hours of peace is attained in situations where the parent’s attention is divided, that kind of situation is a little hard.
Ever so often we witness how children in a bored state are provided with a phone to entertain for a prolonged period. If in such a situation, a storyteller or children’s entertainment is set for the child. Then we can avoid the choice of virtual support that is harmful.
What a child discovers through self-probing the gadget keeps it entertained and when the parent recognizes that their phone is locked or shut then, the parents’ surprise and attention is an attraction factor for the child.
Libraries as a Growing Community for Children
In Singapore, I found that when Parents or a Parent had to do grocery shopping for an hour. The community library helps these parents by taking in children for a storytelling session. In Yishun Community Library, I would participate in the activity as a storyteller.
Now here we have children who are interested in knowing more about a story and that interest is more organic and positive. Replacing attention needs to self-sustaining activity would be a great way of involving a child to listen to stories.
Even in India, I was involved in an activity with Hippocampus a children’s library which included activities that were helpful for the child. This library has shut shop and is functioning in Bengaluru. There aren’t many children’s libraries which could divert children’s reading from cruising the mobile phones to picking up a book and reading.
The Library should take up the ones of protecting a child’s interest. So, it could be made that the child can use the library-based children’s laptop or the personal laptop for children only connects to the main library and the activity is centered around learning, communicating, and building confident online personality with the right values.
Inculcating Reading Habit
It might be hard to get the child to be interested in books and when the child upscales to the next level then providing the child with the next level in reading would keep the activity of reading current and a lifelong activity.
Children learn through the examples that the adult set up. For attention seeking then use bedtime to read to the child. Make it a religious activity and not an infrequent one-time occurrence. This way the child knows that the parents are available for him at that time.
Mostly, it is the mother who is with the child often but there should be a day when the other parent is also involved. Allowing a child to freely ask questions and be involved in their interests also gives positive energy in the relationship.
Itinerant Storyteller 