I've been around this whole internet age thing since the very beginning. In a lot of ways, I have been really lucky to have been so. But the new age trend, with kids as young as 7-8 being exposed to so many things so easily and freely, is kind of scary.
When we were little, we were taught not to be mean to each other. We have to be kind and encouraging towards one another, that is the way to have friends and build relationships. But the internet and the availability of it is a game changer.
Anyone can hide anywhere in the world and say mean things, scary stuff, threaten one another with wild abandon. Women are scammed off of their money, kids are lured out into dangerous situations, and teenagers (their courageous naivety) are exposed to stuff that they are not meant to know until a little later in life, when the foundation is steady.
Compounding to that, kids tend to believe that they can do anything but with the internet and smartphones, they believe they can do anything AND get away with it.
For businesses and working people like us, it works to our advantage but as a parent, it is scary.
Of course, we can look at it from another angle and that is that it opens up new avenues for so many new things, things we never thought was possible before. So, I guess, the only way we can parent our way into this new internet trend is to know what the kids are exposed to, be mindful and aware of their inclinations.
We also need to embrace the beauty of the boundarilessness (I don't care if its a word, LOL) of this world and be reminded that there are wolves out there. Protect yourself. Learn to see who the people are and if one encounters one of these people, close the door to them. Not close the door to everyone but close the doors to these people. They don't deserve to have a look into your life because they are not here to enrich it but to take from it.
Now, how do I hammer THAT into my kids' heads?
*head spinning*
LOL
Marsha
Image Credit: 14red0 on SXC.hu
When we were little, we were taught not to be mean to each other. We have to be kind and encouraging towards one another, that is the way to have friends and build relationships. But the internet and the availability of it is a game changer.
Anyone can hide anywhere in the world and say mean things, scary stuff, threaten one another with wild abandon. Women are scammed off of their money, kids are lured out into dangerous situations, and teenagers (their courageous naivety) are exposed to stuff that they are not meant to know until a little later in life, when the foundation is steady.
Compounding to that, kids tend to believe that they can do anything but with the internet and smartphones, they believe they can do anything AND get away with it.
For businesses and working people like us, it works to our advantage but as a parent, it is scary.
Of course, we can look at it from another angle and that is that it opens up new avenues for so many new things, things we never thought was possible before. So, I guess, the only way we can parent our way into this new internet trend is to know what the kids are exposed to, be mindful and aware of their inclinations.
We also need to embrace the beauty of the boundarilessness (I don't care if its a word, LOL) of this world and be reminded that there are wolves out there. Protect yourself. Learn to see who the people are and if one encounters one of these people, close the door to them. Not close the door to everyone but close the doors to these people. They don't deserve to have a look into your life because they are not here to enrich it but to take from it.
Now, how do I hammer THAT into my kids' heads?
*head spinning*
LOL
Marsha
Image Credit: 14red0 on SXC.hu
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