11/12/2017
Enter the next generation. Generation U is the first to grow up in a fully digital world and that can be a pretty scary thought for parents. From exposure to heavy news items to the threat of cyberbullying, the impact can be far reaching.
The Children’s Global Media Summit took place in Manchester last week, bringing together key influencers to talk about the impact digital media has on young people. The summit highlights how important it is that we understand the role media plays in the lives of young children. It can be overwhelming for parents to keep on top of digital developments and know how to handle tricky questions they might not be prepared for.
We’ve put together some handy tips to help you help your children through:
News
Our kids can be exposed to pretty horrific news events before we’ve had the chance to vet the information or validate the source. From news alerts being sent to your child’s phone to playground discussions, children can hear about things that can make them feel worried or nervous. It’s important that we’re able to talk to children about these difficult topics and to put things into context. The key is to encourage open discussion and deliver the (age appropriate) truth. Let your child tell you about the things that scare them and tackle those issues specifically. Take a look at these age-based tips on how to respond to specific age groups.
Social media
This can be a minefield for parents; especially those with older children. From the fear of cyberbullying to inappropriate content and connections, it’s important we know what’s going on. For parents who want to know more about the social media platforms their kids may be active on, The NSPCC and O2 have joined forces with NetAware. This guide reviews all the main social networks popular with children and helps us to keep our kids safe online. Knowledge is power, and it’s important to know about the platforms our children are active on.
Cyberbullying
A big focus at the Children’s Global Media Summit was the impact media has on our children’s mental health. One of the main issues for children is the threat of cyberbullying. Stop, speak, support is a great new initiative set up by The Royal Foundation’s Taskforce on the Prevention of Cyberbullying. This code of conduct helps to tackle online bullying from reducing the risk to taking action. It’s vital that we talk to our kids about these issues and teach them how to stay safe online. Here are some tips from the NSPCC on how to tackle the problem.
We live in a digital world which brings many advantages and opportunities. It’s great that our children have access to so much information and can use technology in so many creative ways. If we can manage it properly, we can all relax knowing that we’re helping to keep our children safe online.