February 5, 2024, 22:01
Parents need to do more to protect their children from the dangers of smartphones, writes Will Guyatt.
Photo: Getty/LBC
As young people’s use of smartphones comes back into the spotlight, LBC’s Will Guyatt looks at what can be done to protect them.
Should we really call for a ban on smartphones for those under 16? Remember the last “ban” that actually worked?
As a society, it’s time to have a serious discussion about smartphone use by young people and its effects, but well-intentioned attempts to put the literal genie back in the bottle are akin to attempts to ban rock and roll in the 1960s. resemble.
One death related to anything online is one too many. However, it is time for parents and other adults who play an important role in young people’s lives to do more to educate and guide them about the potential risks of being online. Through their digital lives.
It’s as much a responsibility on us as it is on the technology companies, and it would be frankly remiss of us to wring our hands and wait for intervention.
Tech companies didn’t force kids to buy smartphones or download certain apps.
A recent European study suggests that 80% of children aged 9 to 16 use a smartphone every day. Meanwhile, according to the 2023 Nominet Digital Youth Index, an astonishing 56% of children under the age of 16 in the UK use Whatsapp, despite the service being run by children under the age of 16. I am. You are over the age limit.
Sure, tech companies should do more to prevent young people from using their services, but parents still intentionally hand over devices to their children, and in modern times, it’s no different than handing them a blank check. It’s the same thing.
I’m a parent of a 5-year-old girl and can’t wait for her to have a smartphone.
She may enjoy writing on her mom’s laptop or playing Nintendo’s Mario Kart from time to time, but we intentionally limit her use of technology.
I don’t just blame other parents who gave their 2-year-old their own tablet, or future families who gave their 8-year-old a smartphone, but this is not the path we should go down. .
She has to make her own decisions about what information she shares digitally and the reality that they are the bad guys in the world both physically and online.
what can i do?
Tech companies didn’t force kids to buy smartphones or download certain apps. .
Photo: Alamy
The first thing adults should do is figure out what their kids are doing online, what apps they’re using, what games they’re playing, and who they’re talking to.
Encourage your child to talk to an adult about anything they don’t understand, even if it’s not you.
All digital devices should be used outdoors, game consoles, tablets or computers should be kept in the living room, and ways should be devised to limit their use in the bedroom.
If you’re setting up your device for the first time, there are a variety of parental control apps available that allow you to limit the amount of time you use your device, restrict certain apps and activities, and stop online searches for certain content. It’s a popular service used by parents all over the world. Includes Netnanny and Qustodio parental controls.
Also, if your kids want to join social networks like Snapcat or Tiktok, there are parental control options available that basically let you decide who they interact with, but some kids For someone, it’s the same as sitting five rows behind you and your friend. At a Taylor Swift concert.
There are other ways to control home use as well. Most broadband routers now allow parents to restrict online access to certain times of the day, and many parents are starting to use this feature.
Who should I consult?
It’s hard for parents to know where to turn. UK Safer Internet Center (Homepage – UK Safer Internet Center) – a valuable charity with an informative website full of advice and information for parents and carers about the issues young people may face online.
Their website doesn’t just cover mobile phones, but game consoles, computers, tablets, smart TVs, smart speakers, as well as the help and support you need from adults when navigating the digital world. is also covered.
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