“To give, or not to give, that is the question”, you may think when it comes to internet devices accessed by your child. But is it anymore?
Internet-enabled devices have become omni-present in this decade. Most of all it’s the smartphone, which is one of the latest in the epitome of man-made things that kids get exposed to right from the moment they are born.
Smartphones have undoubtedly transformed human life for the better. Never before in human history was it possible to Google something and know it right away, easily connect with old and make new friends globally, explore new territory without asking for directions anymore. For what it’s worth, the ‘smartphone’ does deserve a re-christening, for phone is increasingly becoming the least used feature for many!
Practically, it has become quite impossible to unplug for us all. There’s seems to be a good reason for that. The smartphone and app design, led by legendary Steve Jobs, was focused on encapsulating the attention and imagination of an adult audience, who could use several internet-enabled features within a sleek device. It’s pretty obvious to any modern human on how big an impact that vision has had on our daily lives.
Children seem to be at the worst receiving end of this addictive bait. What begins with supervised cartoon videos for a toddler during meals on parent’s device, soon expands into vast universe of mobile games and YouTube videos across phones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs and gaming consoles. If left unchecked, this can very easily become a life-damning addiction with no recourse. A 3-year old today is smart and versatile enough to browse through PlayStore, but how many parents are really ensuring that the right parental controls are working all the time? To their credit, these glamorous tech gadgets were non-existent in their childhood,
As per a survey by Childcare, 86% of parents don’t follow age rating on video games played by their children. The vastly popular game ‘PUBG’, for instance, is rated 16+ on PlayStore and 17+ on AppStore, but currently happens to be a highly popular game among boys who are much younger than that.
86% of parents don’t follow age rating on the video game. The vastly popular PUBG, for instance, is rated 16+ on PlayStore and 17+ on AppStore, but currently happens to be a highly popular game among boys who are much younger than that.
But it’s not all bad, right? Of course, the endless learning opportunity provided by the internet through sites like YouTube, Coursera, Byju’s et al or interactive and educational games have, for the first time in human history, unlocked instant and vast information reserves for any willing soul anywhere. Knowledge and specialization are increasingly becoming a sole function of self-interest, willingness to learn and Google-ing skills. Settling curiosities like ‘why is the sky blue?’ doesn’t have to wait until it shows up in the curriculum book anymore!
Responsible, controlled use could go a long way in scripting a path enriched with learning, fun and sweet childhood memories.
In this tech age, parents must be proactive in helping their children step into a responsible future by claiming authority over the content and quantum of time being spent on these devices by their children. Responsible, controlled use could go a long way in scripting a path enriched with learning, fun and sweet childhood memories.
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