Are our kids Digitally responsible ?
“We don’t have a choice on whether we do Social Media, the question is how well we do it.”
Erik Qualman
If your child has a smart phone or a social media account, if he/she uses an online platform for educational or non-educational purposes, then he/she is already a digital citizen. In this era where even schools have started to follow the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) rule, it is far-fetched to think that we can keep our kids away from the digital world. What gets guardians more concerned is the means by which they can make sure that their child is growing up as a digitally “responsible” citizen!
Tending to the 21st-century aptitude of digital responsibility is imperative to assist children with learning and communicating safely. Being a digital citizen means you know the ‘Netiquettes’ well, and it enables your child to have a more secure and more fulfilling experience on the web.
The Four Components Of Digital Responsibility
Why Digital Responsibility Is The ‘Need Of The Hour’ ?
Some guardians feel monitoring their kids’ digital use is a better way of guaranteeing their online protection, than teaching them all about it. The discussion appears so cumbersome that they lean toward getting the job done than talking about it. But, here’s the truth.
Monitoring your kid’s gadget and network use is conceivable just up to a specific time. You can’t tail them after they move out or screen your kid’s content when he/she opposes it. But if you can help them to internalize the significance of being digitally mindful, it remains with them. Regardless of where you are or where your kid is, you can find a sense of contentment since you realize that your child knows how to be sheltered on the web. Parents, counselors, and mentors have the obligation of displaying the correct conduct to children so that they can acknowledge what is good and bad, and follow the ‘Netiquette’ constantly.
Related : Ways to Foster Creativity in Kids
Teaching Your Kids To Be Digitally Responsible
Well, for a start, urge your kids to go through the Terms and Policies of each website they are using. I am sure most of us have never read the Terms and Conditions before they click on the ‘I Agree’ button, we don’t care about the rules unless we have to. Building up the propensity for acquainting yourself with the guidelines for every site is a strong advance to become digitally responsible.
Here are some more tips on how you can raise a digitally dependable citizens at home.
1. Follow The ‘Do As I Do’ Mode
Children are great imitators. They do what they see, and they incorporate it substantially faster. Rather than flatly telling them what to do, try demonstrating to them the correct way. For instance, if you disapprove your children of having a social networking account before they are 18, ensure you are not scrolling through your Facebook wall before them. Go for a digital detox yourself and let your kids know why they shouldn’t get into social networking before they are adults.
2. Discuss The Protection Steps
Take aside some time every week, or at least once a month, where you communicate with your child about the online safety measures. Explain to them what is meant by digital responsibility and encourage them to ask questions. Show them basic things that are straightforward and less easy to follow, for example
- Setting a strong password
- Not sharing the password with anyone, not even with the closest of friends
- They should not use abusive language or explicit photos on the web, and not tolerating any online harassments under any circumstances
- Also, tell them not to share personal information like birth details, passport number, and bank details via the internet, unless it is an absolute necessity
In addition to discussing the online safety tricks with your child, you can also take some precautionary measures like –
- Checking the location settings on your child’s mobile and disabling the location services when your child doesn’t need it
- Regularly monitoring the privacy policies of your home network and your child’s gadgets, if that is possible
- Enabling safe filter in your home network so that your child doesn’t have the access to explore illegal sites
- Setting a cap on the monthly data usage so that your children have limited access to the internet. This might encourage them to use their gadgets more for work and studies, and less for entertainment.
Get to know why children need Downtime .
3. Set Online Screen Time For Your Family
Before you go into monitoring your kids’ digital use, try using the screen time method. Come up with some rules on screen time and make sure everyone in your family abides by it, including you.
For example, make a rule of not using the phone or computer when the family is having dinner together, or no daily status updates when you are out for a vacation. By teaching simple things like this, you can teach your child how to maintain the balance between his/her virtual world and the reality.
There is no way we can disengage ourselves from the digital world today, but by teaching our kids the value of real relationships and direct communication, we can help them in realizing their limitations online and offline.
4. Introduce The Golden Rules
Here are the Golden rules that you can teach your child in order to become a digitally responsible citizen (and make sure you follow them too)
- Parents should use the internet as they expect their children to use it
- No one should ever indulge or participate in cyberbullying
- We should focus on the things that are under our control, for example – monitoring our children’s digital use, teaching them the pros and cons of using the internet, and regulate our own activities online
- Kids must immediately inform their parents, teachers, or any elders if they sense anything uncomfortable happening to them online
- If required, parents can rely on external parental monitor applications to make sure that their children are following the online safety rules
Digital responsibility has a lot more to it, this is only a hint of the greater challenge that we talked about here. The key to raising dependable kids lies in encouraging them to internalize values and rely more on direct communication. It is not tied in with disclosing to them why they should avoid the Internet, but more about demonstrating to them the right ways of using the Internet, with the hope that they can proudly call themselves ‘digitally responsible citizens’.
Thanking Emily Thompson who is a Cyber Safety Consultant at KidGuard for this informative post. She is just a neighborhood mom (and coincidentally a Cyber Safety Consultant) passionate about child and teen online safety. She is a firm believer of building a loving and trusting relationship between parent and child through open dialogue, education, and monitoring measures (when and if necessary).
How did you feel about this post? What all measures do you take to raise Digitally Responsible kids? Share your thoughts in comments section.
Love,
Jhilmil
This is so informative post. Today every kid is a digital freak. it is very important to keep an eye on them plus monitor their device and them before it is too late to protect them
What a worthy article my dear, as a mom of a techno savvy kid o was looking fir these tips.
great tips, it’s better to educate kids well since you can’t stop the internet usage, use the internet responsibly. it’s a must.
You know …this is one of the best read of the day… perfectly mentioned all precautions we need to take with kids today
Thanks Ruchi, means a lot to me from an experienced mom:)
You know this has been a cause of stress for me since the time ny baby was born. I wanted to keep her off screens completely but realized it was hard if not impossible. But I ensure I limit her time and try not to use phone in front of her. I like the other tips you’ve mentioned too. Loved reading this.
First of all the topic selected for this blog is undoubtedly one of the most important points a parent should never miss, plus the thought is been put across in a very beautiful way
This is definitely the need of the hour and you have mentioned some great points here.
Truly said – children are great imitators so our online behaviour is what they will follow and we need to keep that in mind.Also enough transparency and comfort with the kids that they can report anything that bothers them online.
Hi Jhilmil,
Excellent post! In this age of electronic devices, it is important to teach our children the dos and don’ts and make them aware of things related to social media. Internet is an excellent medium to explore the world and learn new things however, it depends on individual to individual how they use it.
Thanks for sharing this post. Have a good day. 🙂
This is a superb article ! Its the need of the hour. I will circulate this article on whatsapp group. A page, worth reading and imbibing.
Parents dont allow the child for mobile and internet. Its good but at the same time we should understand that we are stepping forwards to Digital India and its good if children know about the internet and all. As a parent, we will guide them, we will tell them whats good and whats bad. Everything has its good and bad part so we should use things properly. And yes we should use child safe guard too.
In today’s age and time these are important tips that every parent should know and share with their children. Being digitally responsible is the need of the hour.
This mom has given right information abt how to raise digital safe kids in this era. I too have written similar on website
This is the right way to keep kids safe and secured online. Your tips of follow self first and then show the path is best have seen lately.
A wonderful article! This is exactly what the world needs right now. Digital bullying is real and can have highly averse effects
I think this was a much-needed post and I love how beautifully you have explained each area. Digital world needs to be tackled very intelligently.
In today’s world when kids are exposed to so many gadgets easily, raising a digitally responsible kid is very important. Great tips for parents.
This is a must read for every parents… Today we all are living in digital Era where gadgets are an integral part of life, it’s very important to monitor our kids action and teach them how to use technology in right way…
This is a very useful article for every parent .
As nowadays kids all are digital gadget Geek. These tips will help me for sure when my son grows.
This is such a wonderful oost and a very detailed one indeed! Except the parental control mode I wasn’t aware of any of them.
This is a really relevant topic n you have structured n worded your narrative very well. It’s extremely important to raise cyber conscious nexgen.
Loved the amazing tips. Raising digitally responsible kids is need of the hour.. well written post.
I’m glad that you have chosen to write about this issue. With kids using social media and internet it is important to educate kids how to harness the power of information in a proper way.
A must read for all parents. I love the phrase “digitally responsible “. I agree with every point you have listed out. Well conceived and thoughtfully written post. Keep writing.
All the mentioned pointers are so true for our times. We cannot stop entry into digital world but should teach the kids right and wrong.
This is such an important topic. My son is still small but this generation will be online before they are even teenagers so I need to keep these tips in mind. Thanks for sharing such practical tips
This is such a need to the hour post. Being an IT professional, I know that in coming years, the exposure of digital world is going to multiply. All we can do is to regulate it for our kids and for ourselves as well. Great post, will share at my FB as well. #MyFriendAlexa #vibhuandme
Thank you so much Shipra, glad you enjoyed reading it
This is such an essential topic to talk on. Thank you for writing and so well written too!
Handy tips for parents these days when technology has become such a vital part of life. I do believe that kids emulate what they see and hence parents have to set the right example first
These days children pick up on technology very early. It is essential to make them digitally responsible during their growing up years itself. Good, informative article!
The “Do as I do” rule is the hardest to implement, I think. I’ve seen chain-smoker fathers lamenting over it when their progenies start smoking once hitting 18. Super informative post. 🙂
Exposing children to social media is scary because you’re essentially removing all layers between them & the rest of the world. Great tips on how to prepare them for digital media.
Great pointers!!
Not using the important dates as password is very important even for adults. And disabling the location is another area which should be taken care of. Above all, as you said follow what we preach. Kids these days are very smart and we cannot keep a close watch all the time. But making them aware about internet rulea and safety is something every parent should do.
#MothersGurukulreads #MyFriendAlexa
Wonderful tips and relevant in today’s world. Technology if used wisely can better our lives!
It’s totally our responsibility how we make them grow and understand the value
A sensible and all round approach to cyber security is a must in this age where even children have access to the internet.
Thanks for this informative article.
A very informative and need of the hour article. Thanks for writing on this topic.
Most relevant topic in today’s time. Gadgets have taken over a huge space in every household. You have discussed all the possible ways to keep the young ones safe from negativities of digital world.
All of these suggestions are vital to your child’s online safety. Excellent article.