We dwell in a world dominated by screens, and the mantra for survival is consumption with out overindulgence. However, putting the best steadiness might not be as straightforward because it appears, particularly within the case of youngsters. Here is the place the function of oldsters turns into immensely necessary. Parents want to assist their youngsters navigate the tremulous panorama of social media with out getting misplaced in its harmful twists and turns.
“The internet, while a powerful tool for information and connectivity, has been implicated in contributing to anxiety among children. One prominent factor is the pervasive influence of social media. Kids are exposed to curated versions of others’ lives, fostering unrealistic standards and a constant sense of comparison. Cyberbullying on these platforms further adds to the stress, creating an environment where online interactions can be a source of anxiety,” shares Dr Munia Bhattacharya, Consultant Psychologist with Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurgaon.
Risks and Benefits of a Social Media Presence
The risks lengthen to extreme physique picture points, threats to the sense of id, the chance of bodily hurt, a distraction from life targets, and, opposite to fashionable perception, isolation. All of those could cause important psychological harm, which can be troublesome to come back again from.
On the opposite hand, social media can improve your kid’s studying by extending and sharing college classes. It’s a platform for exploring hobbies, fostering creativity, and enhancing psychological well being by connections with household and associates.
Mr Sandeep Kumar, Founder and Managing Director – Baatu Technologies additional emphasises, “At this juncture, the most important question seems to be, ‘What is age-appropriate exposure and how can it help mitigate the mentioned ill effects?’ Unfortunately, there is no right answer to this. It depends on the maturity level and cognitive abilities of the child. However, the general rule of thumb is that it is only after the age of 13 that children should be allowed on social media. Even then, parents need to monitor their children and be a part of their virtual lives.”
Tips for Parents For Navigating Social Media In Kids’ Lives
Set clear boundaries
When it involves parenting within the digital age, the primary decree is to set clear boundaries and parameters of utilization when it comes to the hours of use, banned websites, and the form of content material that may be accessed. Announcing mandates, nevertheless, could do extra hurt than good. A greater manner of going about this may be to speak to your baby about your considerations and provide you with these limits collectively.Â
Mindful monitoring
The second step is to make sure that the principles that you’ve provide you with are being adopted. The greatest manner to do that is to be in common communication along with your baby about their social media presence. Along with this, devices that permit dad and mom to watch digital exercise are very useful. Such gadgets allow carers to remain abreast of any challenges that their wards could also be dealing with and assist them cope with them successfully.Â
Leading by instance
Highlighting your individual errors and their penalties can be useful, as that may assist them see you as fallible people who’re making an effort to enhance their lives. It would additionally allow them to look extra kindly at their errors and provides them the braveness to begin once more with the principles in thoughts.
