The internet is a whole world in itself, and it is just as diverse as real life. Millennials and the generations that came before—even early Gen Z—grew up without the internet. Their childhoods weren’t affected by it, or it was just another thing at best. They saw the evolution of the internet, from dial-up connections to the state of internet availability nowadays, which is essentially everywhere.
Kids nowadays have no idea about a world that existed before the internet. They grew up with it, and it’s an active part of their daily routine. From education to play, it has infiltrated every aspect of their lives. This begs the question: is that a bad thing? Well, the answer is a bit complex, but we’ll give you a spoiler and say yes; it is bad. So, in this blog, we’ll discover why excessive internet use has a bad influence on kids and what measures parents can take to make a difference.
Too much of a good thing is bad, the quote holds true for most things; the internet included. The internet is a hub for information, both positive and negative. The best way to look at it is by comparing it to a hammer. A hammer is a tool used for construction, but a hammer can also be used to smash in a pumpkin. It doesn’t make the hammer good or bad, it’s but a tool; how and what an individual uses it for makes the difference.
The internet contains information, images, videos and audio of incidents and activities that generally should not be subjected to at such a young age. Whilst an argument can be made to make kids aware of the world and its workings, social media apps, which kids primarily use, aren’t the greatest or most accurate source of information.
Kids, despite age restrictions, have and are active on social media apps. Stats show most kids being “perpetually online” and the websites most visited by them include YouTube (90%), TikTok (63%), Instagram (62%), and Snapchat (55%) along with Reddit and Facebook.
Furthermore, the internet is a place where communication is unmoderated. Anyone can speak with anyone and about anything. This can result in your kids potentially speaking with bad characters without their knowledge, including but not limited to:
This absolute free use of the internet can result in kids exposing themselves to content that isn’t appropriate for them at their age, such as gore, pornography, acts of violence, consumption of drugs, and more. This becomes a major psychological stressor for a young mind and could potentially change their outlook on life if exposed to such extreme content so early on.
Read Also: Protect Your Digital Life: Essential Cybersecurity Tips for Families
Kids can unintentionally wreak havoc upon a PC to the extent that only the best tech support services can help rectify the invited issues. Here are some of the most common complaints we’ve seen:
Parents must actively keep track of their kids’ online activities and perhaps make use of smart locks to ensure they aren’t accessing anything they shouldn’t.
As the war against unregulated internet wages on, parents aren’t completely helpless. They can equip themselves with the tools and techniques that can protect their children from dangers that lurk in the shadows of the internet. Here are some countermeasures:
Smart home devices can help parents track and manage a child’s internet usage to a great extent. Many routers and almost every smartphone today come equipped with parental controls, allowing you to restrict access to inappropriate websites, set time limits for screen use, and track online activity. Using them, parents can adjust settings based on their child’s age and maturity level.
Smart locks are yet another great feature that can be installed on devices like tablets, laptops, or smartphones—essentially any device that connects to the internet. These can be password-protected and time-sensitive, meaning they won’t work after a certain time. This way, your child cannot access the device unless they explicitly get permission from you, encouraging them to partake in other activities.
While it may seem like a pointless pursuit, educating your children about the dangers of the internet helps them prepare for these risks better. Talk to them about the importance of not sharing personal information with strangers and visiting websites that aren’t safe. Encourage them to speak up if they feel uncomfortable with something they encounter online. Building a positive environment goes a long way!
As overwhelming as it might seem at times, navigating the vastness of the internet is not something you must do alone. Tech support services can help you set up monitoring systems to track your child’s online behaviour. Not only that, they can troubleshoot any issues you run into and provide valuable insights on how to make your devices safe for kids to use.
It may seem scary at times, but the current dependency of the world on the internet and how it seems that every kid is chronically online; restricting your kids from the internet completely seems like an impossible task. Since they’ve grown up with it, it’s an integral part of their life, and on a fundamental level, the internet is perhaps the greatest tool for information and communication ever created. With the right education and bounds and checks in place, it is possible to create a safe online environment for your children.
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