The current generation has unfortunately found itself in the shackles of social media so deeply that they are facing digital addiction and are having difficulty distinguishing between good and bad exposure. The problem is that even young children today have easy access to mobile phones and laptops. Though this definitely helps them have a digital edge, we can’t ignore the fact that it is these devices that make them land straight onto social media channels like Facebook and Instagram.
We at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok, regarded as the best school in Gurgaon, firmly believe that social media is something where children get exposed to both positive and negative experiences. This makes it necessary for parents to keep track of the social media usage of kids. If gone unnoticed by parents, you can only imagine how serious the outcome can be. Today, in this blog, we are attempting to share some key issues faced by the “Facebook Generation” so that schools, teachers, and parents can collaborate on deriving and applying solutions.
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Lethargy and Physical Inactiveness:
As parents, if you go back to think about your childhood, one of the sweetest memories you’d be able to recollect is of you playing in the playground. Isn’t it? As children, you would have seldom liked to spend time indoors.
The case with the Facebook generation is exactly the opposite. They are capable of spending endless hours before the computer screen or the mobile phone, which only keeps their mind engaged and puts the physical parameters under the radar.
This, in turn, gives birth to lethargy and an array of physical ailments. This is where parents need to encourage children to step out of the house, play with other children, and engage in physically intensive activities.
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Digital Addiction:
Often overlooked, but the fact is that the Facebook generation is falling prey to digital addiction. Even after supervision from adults, children often end up crossing the line as far as overall digital exposure on any given day is concerned.
There is no surprise if a child stops having his/her meals or gets into a disagreement with the parent just because of the digital limitations that are being laid out. If not controlled well in time, such digital addiction can turn into a serious obstacle and stall children’s growth both personally and professionally.
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Dependence on Machine Intelligence:
One of the first areas that is directly impacted due to digital exposure is one’s willing choice does not go that extra mile. This means children purposefully refrain from making any effort.
For instance, let’s say your child has sat down to complete his/her homework and feels stuck in one of the places. Now, instead of thinking hard or trying to find a way to the problem, it is common for the child to take support from digital devices, the internet, and the World Wide Web to find answers.
No doubt, such exposure is helpful when an adult is not immediately available, but in most cases, such dependence prevents children from using their mental abilities and common sense, which in the days to come can make children falter, especially when a real-life problem hits.
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Ignorance and Arrogance:
Believe it or not but to some extent, the Facebook Generation has remained ignorant and, even then, continues to adopt an arrogant stance. This generation believes everything they read and see online is ultimately imitated in real life.
Similarly, they have such deep and undying faith in digital mediums that they fail to accept their ignorance and instead end up responding in an arrogant manner.
We at DPS Sushant Lok, one of the best schools in Gurgaon, believe that the need of the hour is for parents to show the Facebook generation a world beyond screens, the internet, and an adulterated pool of information that is easily accessible. Failure to do so is likely to make children fall into the trap coming out of which will not just be difficult, but in most cases, next to impossible.
Summing Up:
Every time the Delhi Public School Sushant Lok team tries to talk to parents about the not-so-pleasant impact of social media, parents express their inability to manage their children’s screen time. We understand this is mainly because, in the post covid era, life has become a lot about digital experiences, be it for learning, shopping, or any other aspect.
Even though this is true to some extent, it is possible to counter the situation by understanding the obstacles such digitally active children face so that self-regulation becomes a part of their life.
In the end, the goal is never to cut off digital networking channels but to regulate their use. This is the key to selectively absorbing the positive aspects of social media while keeping the negative effects aside.