How to foster healthy technology use in children
Parents are increasingly expressing concerns over the impact of smartphones and social media on their children’s development. Many feel that they have adversely affected their kids, but Dr. Kaitlyn Regehr, an associate professor and program director at University College London, argues that such fears may be misplaced, reports BritPanorama.
In her recently published book, “Smartphone Nation: Building Digital Boundaries When Offline Isn’t an Option,” Dr. Regehr provides guidance on managing screen time for children and suggests that the focus should not only be on limiting that time but also on how children engage with the content they consume.
A key message from her book is the need to challenge the algorithms that dictate what we see online. Dr. Regehr emphasizes that parents can take proactive steps to curate their children’s digital experiences, rather than letting social media platforms decide for them.
Dr. Regehr points to the importance of engaging with content together as a family. This could involve watching educational programs or documentaries that spark conversation, rather than isolating children with devices. “Sitting with your child and having a discussion with them about what you see is qualitatively different from passive consumption,” she explains.
She also stresses the concept of “digital nutrition,” where parents and children together evaluate the quality of their screen time. “We need to make conscious choices about what we consume, just as we would with food,” she adds. This approach encourages discussions about the emotional impact of different types of content, fostering a more mindful relationship with technology.
Dr. Regehr advocates for the “walkthrough method,” where parents go through a child’s social media feeds with them to understand what content they are consuming. While some may find this approach too invasive, she assures that it can provide valuable insights into their child’s online world and help guide better habits.
For parents worried about their children’s screen time, Dr. Regehr suggests weekly check-ins where family members share content that evoked different emotional responses. This practice not only opens up discussions about digital engagement but also aids in understanding the extremes of content consumed by young users.
“Encouraging quality consumption is essential,” she asserts, urging parents to steer their children away from algorithm-driven content towards more meaningful engagements. This fundamentally shifts the focus from quantity of screen time to quality, empowering families to take control of their digital lives.
As society grapples with the implications of pervasive technology use, fostering healthy digital habits in children will likely remain a significant challenge. Awareness and proactive engagement from parents can thus play a pivotal role in shaping a more responsible approach to technology use.
