Are you concerned about the content your child is consuming on television or through the internet? Now that schools have closed, that should worry you.
The digital landscape is evolving rapidly and research shows that media content has a lot of influence on the moral development of children, especially at early ages.
Modern technology has brought with it great improvements and unanticipated challenges.
Among the most demanding of these challenges is the need to ensure our children use the internet productively.
In today’s digital era, children have easy access to internet sites with unlimited content uploaded daily.
If not controlled, they can stream any content on their devices and watch as many videos as they can.
Parents may not always know what their children are viewing, or how much time they are spending on screens.
They can even interact socially online with friends and strangers.
There's a lot of content out there, and some of it might not be appropriate for your children, depending on their age and maturity level.
With technological advancements, research shows that internet use is mainly a home-based activity and that it has become a part of daily adolescent life in the contemporary world.
This indicates that children who are uncontrolled and over-dependent on the internet and social media may develop long-term mental challenges and moral decay.
Children routinely use tablets, phones, computers, and other devices to play games, watch videos or even chat with their friends.
As screen time has become such a staple in their lives, there is a growing concern over how much time children spend on screens.
This calls for the utmost reason why there is a need for the parents to set screen times and monitor their child’s internet use because the internet is filled with unfiltered content for kids to be exposed to harmful interactions like bullying and harassment.
Parental control apps can help parents and caregivers manage and monitor their child's screen time.
Such apps can also block certain content, set limits on app usage, and help you see what your child is doing online.
Child protection especially during the school holidays is of paramount importance.
Before you take any assistance or any kind of tool to monitor a child’s internet activities, it is very important to counsel your child and make them aware of all the pros and cons of its usage.
Let your children know how they can be vulnerable and trapped.
Protecting children from inappropriate media content calls for collective efforts from all the stakeholders and especially parents, guardians or caregivers who spend more time with the children.
It is important to note that parental monitoring of children’s television viewing and internet consumption is an essential family practice that helps children understand the messages they find in advertisements, diverse programmes and online content.
Remember that internet and media conduct is permanent, hence monitoring your child’s internet and media usage will be a lengthy and arduous process.
Prioritise your child's protection from inappropriate content!
Communications and Public Relations Specialist
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
