Topic of the Month

CHILDREN NEED GUIDANCE IN THE CYBER WORLD, TOO

Almost every parent I talk to tells me that his or her teen-age child accesses the internet.  The degree to which a child is allowed to access the internet (e.g., time, type of website, etc.) varies from parent to parent.  Some parents are comfortable with letting their children have their computers in their rooms to access the internet freely, while other parents do not allow their

children to use the internet alone. 

As we all know, the internet is INTERACTIVE, meaning that it can provide you with interesting contents and give you an opportunity to interact with the rest of the cyber (and non-cyber) world.  Because internet was introduced to us grown-ups as a “new technology” not so long ago (how many of you were using the internet regularly 10 years ago?), many parents are still in the mentality of “passive consumers,” who perceive the internet as a variation of familiar activities, such as watching TV shows, reading newspaper and books, playing video games, and buying things through mail-order catalogs.    

But how about our children?

According to a survey by PEW, 87% of teens (between ages 12 and 17) are online, which is an increase of about 24% compared to four years ago. 

For children today, the internet was already built into their lifestyle before they could spell their name, or say the first word for that matter.  Children certainly view the internet differently than adults. 

Here’s some more interesting statistics:

• Teens tend to consider email as a tool for communicating with adults (teachers, institutions, etc.) while seeing IMs as a tool for everyday conversations with friends.    

• More than half of teens who use the internet can be considered “Content Creators,” meaning that they create a blog or webpage, and post photos, videos, music, artwork, or stories online. 

• More than half of all teens between ages 12-17 use social networking sites.  Girls are more likely to use such sites to reinforce pre-existing friendships.  For boys, they tend to use it as a place to flirt and to make new friends. 

• About one third of teens online have experienced what can be considered “cyber bullying,” – receiving threatening messages; having their private emails or text messages forwarded without knowing; having an embarrassing picture posted without permission; or having rumors spread online. 

It is quite apparent that the internet means more to our children.  It is not only a place to obtain information, have fun, and communicate: It is also a place of socialization and self-expression.   

This makes it very important for parents to approach the topic of internet use with much sensitivity and sensibility.       

It is very important for all parents to set their own rules and guidelines on their child’s internet use.   There are many websites that discuss about this, including the Microsoft website, where you can even download an “Online Code-of-Conduct Contract.”  It is best to educate yourself through various sources, including talking to other parents, before setting up your own rules.    

Every child needs a good structure to feel safe and protected, and it is our job to offer them a good guidance, not only in the real world, but also in the cyber world.