How to Safeguard Teens From Technology: A Parent’s Guide

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How to Safeguard Teens From Technology: A Parent’s Guide

The advancement in technology has brought a lot of changes in our everyday life. Right from shopping to banking, people solely rely on the internet for performing various types of transactions. By having a smartphone, you can have the world at your fingertips. This being the case, the usage of android phones has also increased over the years, with a majority of the users being teens. Gone are the days when children used to play outside with their friends as now their entire world revolves around the internet.

Protecting our children, especially teens from internet and smart phone addiction has become a challenging task to many parents. Kids spend a lot of time on the internet playing games and using social media platforms. This is not a healthy habit as it may lead to various complications such as obesity, addiction, depression, insomnia, etc. One can also say that mobile phones have consumed both time and energy of the children. Research shows that children who are dependent on mobile phones have poor memory, decision making, and thinking skills. 

Technology and Teens

A majority of the teenagers are glued to their smartphones unaware of the dangers they cause. Research shows that most of the teens are addicted to smartphones and stay awake at odd hours in the night. This may not be a good practice as using smartphone will not only affect you physically, but also mentally. Here are some reasons why parents should keep a watch out on the children and their mobile phone usage. 

Lost in the web:

Mobile addiction is one of the common problems that need to be addressed at the earliest. When a kid is either bored or lazy, he/she tends to use a cell phone, research says. Not only this, they also feel depressed and restless if they are asked not to use a phone. Last, but not the least, they crave to get the latest model phone, even though they already have one. Apart from these, using mobile phones also cause a lot of health issues of which some are mentioned below. 

  • Itchy eyes
  • Insomnia
  • Back pain
  • Obesity
  • Fatigue 

Apart from this, using cellphones have also shown to decrease the interest in studies. Children tend to isolate themselves from others and be in their own world. To avoid complications, parents must keep a close watch on the children and encourage them to participate in outdoor activities than using mobile phones. 

Children and cyberbullying:

Sharing personal data such as pictures and videos online makes it easy for cyberbullies to target young children. Most children fall prey to such situations and end up in a series of problems, most of which they do not disclose to their parents. Studies show that children who belong to the age group 12 to 16 fall victims to cyberbullies. Various applications are readily available on the play store, a majority of them being dating site apps. Teens unknowingly download potentially dangerous sites and become victims of cyberbullying. As a result of cyberbullying, children tend to isolate themselves from friends and family members. They also develop personality disorders, depression and other related issues. 

How Parents can help?

Parents find it quite challenging to address issues related to prolonged internet usage. Some parents seek help from online counseling sites to help their children from getting addicted to mobile phones. Here are some effective parenting tips that can be a lifesaver. 

  1. It is advisable to constantly monitor your child’s internet usage. If you suspect overuse, you need to have an open communication with your children. Encourage them to speak out and also advise them on the potential risks of using the internet. 
  2. Filtering is another way through which you can minimize the dangerous of the internet. You can install filters on your computers that constantly monitor the sites. By using such filters, you can block unwanted sites and allow your child to access sites that are harmless. 
  3. To keep your children engaged, you can motivate them to take part in social activities that range from dancing to painting. Such activities will not only keep them engaged, but also improve their skills. You can also encourage them to take part in sports activities. 
  4. Following a schedule at home will prevent the usage of cellphones to a certain extent. You can also forbid your children from using mobile phones while having food.