Post by jo on Jul 9, 2023 7:34:43 GMT -5
Smart Parenting
Whether You Like It Or Not, Your Child Is A Digital Citizen. Here's How To Raise Them To Be Responsible
Story by Thumby Server-Veloso • Wednesday
We all know how much the pandemic has turned us into tech-creatures. Our children are so adept at using gadgets that I wonder if there are any toddlers left that don’t know their parents’ phone passwords?
Like it or not, by allowing our children to use technology whether it’s for school or fun, we have given them permission to participate in a virtual community. By viewing, liking, and posting stuff on social media, our children enter into this digital world, where anyone can be a citizen.
Unfortunately, many children take for granted the tech-society that they are a part of, and may be unaware of the benefits and dangers of being a citizen of this community. Just like being a citizen of a country in real life, there are good ones and bad ones. The kind of citizen your child turns out to be may depend on how much you and the other people in their lives help them.
For children, being a citizen in this digital space definitely has its perks:
Benefits of being a digital native
Have access to information from a variety of sources.
Participate in games and interact with players from all over the world, and be a part of a bigger community.
Enjoy learning tools that can help with school work.
Develop critical thinking and creativity as they immerse themselves in specific challenging games.
Find a wide variety of entertainment in the form of videos, influencers, games, and more.
Have tech skills (keyboard typing, troubleshooting, etc) or even learn new skills (language, sewing, drawing, etc).
Become adept at multitasking. Being able to use their gadgets while doing other things, or having multiple apps or windows open at the same time.
There are also dangers that our children can be potentially exposed to being in the digital realm.
Dangers of being a digital native
Dangers to children if they are not careful or being mindful citizens:
Exposure to inaccurate info, fake news, propaganda, or explicit content not meant for children.
Risk of cyberbullying or exposure to predators who may disguise themselves as children.
Misuse of tools, such as AI apps. Such as an over-reliance on AI that can lead to cheating.
Possibility of addiction to gaming or gadget use which may result in lack of sleep, poor socialization and communication skills, and in some cases, even depression.
Following/viewing videos or influencers with inappropriate content for young children. From the language they use to the products or ideas they are promoting.
Risk of developing Oppositional Online Personality. A persona much different from their actual selves. Some children have created online identities that have very negative and sometimes even spiteful comments on parents, siblings, teachers, or even friends. Suddenly, they are dark, filled with rage, or overly emotional. They may even bully others, pick fights online, or use very crude language. But when you meet them in person, they are the complete opposite.
Short attention spans and trouble focusing
What is digital citizenship?
David Lukic, an information privacy, security and compliance consultant, wrote for the website privacysense.net an article entitled, "The Importance of Responsible Digital Citizenship" where he says, "A good digital citizen will encourage positive and healthy interactions online, maintaining awareness of common online scams or toxic behavior. They will avoid cyberbullying on social media or other digital platforms, focusing on empathy when interacting with others online."
Children will learn how to be good digital citizens from the people around them. Parents, teachers, siblings, grandparents, cousins, helpers, and more. They will learn from watching how others use technology and participate in the Digital World. They will pick up what is okay and not okay to do online from what they see others do. While there will be some who are able to discern on their own, many will need explicit instructions or explanations from the people they trust. It won’t hurt to ask your child’s school if they have lessons on Digital Citizenship, since many schools are already adapting these topics into their curriculum.
There are 2 main reasons why children need to be taught Digital Citizenship. The first reason is so they could protect themselves. And the second reason is so they can be aware of how to be responsible members of the digital community.
How to be a good digital citizen
Here are some ways children should learn to protect themselves while using technology:
Never give personal information (pet’s names, birthdays, parents middle names) or share passwords.
Allow your parents to put security filters.
Unfollow or block sites or people with content that you don’t feel is meant for you.
Tell an adult whenever a stranger tries to contact you. Even if they seem to be a child. Remember, predators are master manipulators, they are skilled at lying and pretending. Well-meaning and kind-hearted children can be easy targets for them.
Avoid ads and clickbait. Never click on ad buttons, and avoid click bait articles. They could be stealing your info.
Stay away from spam. Do not open e-mails sent from someone you don’t know. Sometimes, even opening e-mail from familiar companies could be a trap to give your device a virus or steal your info. Many adults have been deceived by emails that look like they came from their banks.
Get permission for purchases. Never buy anything without permission, even for in-app purchases. Some children are able to use their parents’ gadgets and go shopping, not realizing that the 200.00 amount they just clicked on is not P200, but $200.
Take care of your digital footprint. As a rule, very young children should not have their own social media accounts. Young adults should be mindful of what they post. Future employers might find some cringeworthy content that could make them rethink hiring you.
Give yourself a time limit so you can make sure you can continue to be fully present in the real world.
Disconnect a few hours before bed time to be able to sleep well. Research is showing that gadget use before bedtime suppresses the production of melatonin which we need to fall asleep.
How to be responsible members of the digital community
These are some ways children can be responsible members of the digital community:
When doing research, homeworks, or projects:
Make sure you are using a credible source/site
Credit your source and follow copyright rules
Use apps properly. Don’t use them to do your homework
When interacting with others:
Be kind and respectful. Interact the way you would in real life.
Report cyberbullying and inappropriate content.
When making reviews of products:
Make honest reviews without using offensive language.
Praise when it is deserved, and only use constructive criticism.
To find resources to learn more about this, go to Digitalresponsibility.org. This site was started by a group of Silicon Valley tech employees who wished to share with young people the personal and public consequences of technology.
What a parent's responsibility is
As the adults in their lives, it’s our responsibility to help our children become good digital citizens. You do this through modeling and direct instruction, through giving real life examples by sharing experiences whether they are your own or by people you know.
Remember, our purpose for guiding them is so that they can be good digital citizens who will learn how to protect themselves from scams, hackers, fake sources, offensive and disturbing content, unappealing influencers and cyberbullying. We want them to be good citizens so they will be safe, kind, and productive members of the digital society. Similar to how we raise our children to be good citizens of our country and of the world.
However, we should never forget that even though we know that technology is an undeniable part of our lives, we should be able to help our children by equipping them with the ability to control how much time they spend on their gadgets.
We should help them disconnect from technology, so that they can participate in the real world as well, and experience and enjoy face-to-face interactions with family and friends, enjoy nature, develop skills in sports, music, or art, and take advantage of experiencing adventures big and mundane.