Tablets, smart phones and anything technological have taken over our lives. How often do you sit at a restaurant and marvel at the lack of communication at a table due to children tapping away on a tablet or smart phone? True, it’s easier for many parents who love to eat in peace or avoid the embarrassment of the salt and pepper being poured all over the table cloth, or ketchup flying across the table, or even worse the mother of all tantrums across the restaurant floor accompanied by staring, judgemental eyes. We’ve all done it or at least contemplated handing our child a smart phone during mass or in a waiting room.
Easier it may be, yet safer it is not always. The truth is that we often ignore the fact that while we are comfortable with our children playing indoors and tapping away at their computers or tablets, we are also exposing them to a world which they are not necessarily old enough to handle. Parents who have grown up with the words ‘there is a time and a place for everything’ will no doubt understand that there is indeed a time and a place for everything and this includes the internet. There are age appropriate apps and websites which should be taken note of and security settings that should be in place according to the ages of our children.
The internet is as fascinating as it can be difficult to manage. Be it an online game, an Instagram chat or a Facebook post, if it goes wrong it really does go wrong. Try googling your name and check out the information it reveals to you about yourself. The results are often disturbing and what is worse – it is all public and permanent.
Our children are definitely more tech savvy that we are, but that does not diminish our responsibility to ensure they are safe. This can only be done with an increase in awareness on the safer ways for our children to use the internet. Would you stop your children from walking too close to a cliff’s edge, or to the edge of the sea during a storm? If yes, then why not warn them and educate them on the safer ways of using the internet?
Vodafone has launched its digital parenting campaign for this reason. The ibrowsesafely campaign seeks to educate. Its website www.ibrowsesafely.com.mt is a bilingual resource for parents, teachers and educators full of information, tips and recommendations for bringing up children with healthy and safe online habits. The Facebook page www.facebook/ibrowsesafely.com.mt supports the website and brings the information straight to your smart phone or tablet: daily updates, videos to show your children and discuss, tips on best practice and thoughtful blogs on every subject.