Helping children find their way in this modern minefield

The top US health official, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, believes social media platforms should be provided with warning labels. The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is calling for smartphones to be banned in schools. Chinese regulators are pushing to limit children’s smartphone use to just two hours a day.

These are just a few prominent examples of the growing global concern about the risks young people face when using the internet. These concerns are supported by a large, global body of research. Social media use is linked to feelings of envy, depression and anxiety among young people around the world, including in African countries.

This evidence can make for depressing reading, especially if you’re a parent or carer of a teenager. Many may be tempted to take away their teens’ phones, lock away their tablets and keep them as far away from the internet as possible. But that’s neither practical nor helpful in a hyper-connected, digital world.

Although we come from different academic disciplines as a child rights scholar, moral philosopher and clinical researcher, our current work focuses on the same topic: the ethics of new and emerging technologies and their impacts.

We know that protecting children is a shared responsibility. Government, service providers and education systems all have a role to play. But parents are key. Based on our ongoing research, we have three messages for parents trying to navigate this modern minefield.

First, the internet and social media are not necessarily bad for children. Some online spaces can even help young people improve their mental health.

Second, children and young people have the right to access information, to express their views and to know that those views are respected.

Third, by laying a solid foundation for open, caring, and trusting communication, you will help your children navigate the risks, recognize the ethical pitfalls, and reap the benefits of social media platforms.

Advantages of online areas

While there are risks associated with using the Internet, there is also evidence that it can be beneficial for young people.

For example, interactive features and user-generated content platforms such as social media, blogs and forums enable social interaction and connections. These online spaces allow children to connect with peers, share interests and build communities. They also provide opportunities for creativity and self-expression and help children develop digital literacy skills and shape their identities.

Some areas of the internet can help children and young people improve their mental health. The COVID pandemic accelerated the development of digital mental health services, such as free platforms that connect children with counsellors, chatbots, text tools and apps that provide support for children and parents. Childline South Africa’s free online chat service is one example.

Children’s rights

Too many societies and communities forget that children have rights just like adults.

In South Africa, for example, children’s rights are enshrined in Section 28 of the Constitution.

Globally, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989) guarantees children the rights to access to information, freedom of association, free exchange of ideas and respect for their views, health (including mental health), privacy, non-discrimination, protection, education and play.

The United Nations recently issued guidelines on children’s rights in the digital environment.

Several countries (including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China and the United Kingdom) now have online safety laws in place to protect children and young people.

Some parents may wonder why all countries don’t simply pass laws to reduce the risks of social media. In fact, these regulations are difficult to implement and enforce.

African countries have been slow to regulate online safety for minors. South Africa is working on a white paper to protect children from harmful content and ensure that content meets their needs. However, it is still a draft and new laws and regulations will be years away.

However, parents do not have to wait to teach their children how to use the Internet safely.

Trust and communication

Some parents worry that they don’t have the skills and knowledge to properly support their teenagers. Remember that parents are constantly dealing with new things: setting boundaries for young children, teaching them to read and write, and later dealing with mood swings in adolescence, talking about sexuality, or counseling teenagers through their first heartbreaks.

When it comes to safe navigation and use of the Internet, parents and guardians can help their children in two main ways.

First, you should prioritize open, trusting, and loving communication from a young age. Because children are constantly evolving, the things you talk about will change over time. You can start talking about the internet and social media when you think your children are ready. This will vary from child to child.

Second, it’s about developing their critical thinking skills so they can analyze and evaluate information and arguments clearly, rationally, and objectively. Parents and caregivers can encourage children to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and explore different points of view. There are also programs like Web Rangers that help children develop these skills so they can become responsible digital citizens.

Children who can think critically gain the confidence to rely on their own reason rather than mindlessly adopting the views of others. These skills help them make responsible decisions.

It’s also important to invest time in building a trusting relationship with your children. Parenting for a digital future goes beyond the fear-driven response of regulating screen time and parental monitoring. Developing critical skills comes through negotiation and engagement. And of course, these skills are universally applicable and keep children safe in other aspects of their lives as well.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.