The world is spending a considerable amount of time on Digital platforms, such as social media, shopping sites, OTT networks, gaming portals, and more. Scrolling and browsing online have become a favorite pastime for many, without realizing the repercussion it might have on their emotions!

Being a major source of distraction, professionals are starting to pay less attention at work, children can’t seem to focus on their studies, and personal relationships are deteriorating, due to excessive Digital usage.

Too much screen time causes memory problems and affects the cognitive capabilities of humans. Lack of productivity and problem-solving stimulus can make our brains lazy and more dependent on technology to do the work for us.

Generally, even our sleep time is hampered due to mobile usage at night and excessive comparison with other accomplished personalities on social media, leads to depression and anxiety. That constant comparison of ‘whether or not am I good enough’ is so overpowering, that it affects our self-esteem. We can write a whole article on the Mental Health effects of giving too much importance to Digital content, however, we shall leave that for another day.

Having looked at the cons of Digital technology, there are also numerous pros that cannot be overlooked. Digital literacy is picking-up pace in Schools across Dubai and students are taught to get comfortable with technology because real-world jobs demand employees to be tech-savvy. As the famous saying goes; ‘everything in moderation is good’ and so we have hope of raising kids who are Digitally Conscious and Sensitive to the online world. The below-mentioned tips may help in developing a healthy and respectful relationship with peers online and maintaining decorum that is rooted in the value system.

Ensure Mindfulness:

When we talk to elders in a public place we naturally speak with respect because that’s what we have learnt from our parents. Why do parents then not teach their children how to behave on social media? Sit your child down and tell them what is right vs. wrong, and what is acceptable behavior vs. not, when it comes to the digital space. Some netiquettes that we need to teach our younger fellows are;

• Do not use abusive language or share memes that hurt the feelings of others.
• Use proper manners to comment or complain to the brand, about a certain product/service that you are unsatisfied with.
• Passing sly remarks on celebrities – is a complete NO.
• While dropping a review on Google it’s good to be frank, but not rude.
• Spying on friends or using unauthorized Apps for the same, is completely wrong.
• Making a fake ID just to have an anonymous identity, must be avoided at all costs.
• Sharing too much personal information about your whereabouts can backfire.
• Tactics to earn easy money by signing up to fraudulent sites causes cyber threats.
• Submitting project work by copy-pasting content from elsewhere is a wrong habit and leads to plagiarism issues.

Empathize With Others:

Don’t forget that the person sitting on the other end of a tab or phone is a human being with sentiments. Ask your child how they would feel if someone posted a bad comment on their Facebook timeline. Hurting someone’s emotions is not right.

Sharing Fake Information:

All that you see online isn’t 100% believable. The media can hype a story quite a bit and spread unauthentic rumors. This could lead to a chain of sharing fake messages, and cause havoc within your school or social circle in the UAE. Check only websites that are reliable and believe trustworthy information.

Keep a Strict Rule in Place:

According to research carried out by Microsoft, 94 percent of parents permit their children to use one or more online devices and services by the age of 9 years. Most educational resources such as explainer videos and documentaries are available online and depriving children of such content would be unfair. But at the same time, overexposure is a threat. We advise parents to install an ‘adult lock system’ such that they have full control of what sites children can access and also get to know about the history of how their children are spending time online. Constraint the number of hours your child decides to be online. A maximum of 45 minutes of online time is good enough and the rest of the hours should be spent more productively; engaging in physical activity, socializing with friends at the park, reading a book, or signing up for a hobby glass in and around your locality within the GCC region.

TechnoKids promotes digital literacy in the Middle East for students of Grades 1 to 12 years. It is an absolutely safe platform to get your kids to learn different Tech topics such as coding, how to use MS Office, video making, and even studying how to develop a gaming App. Subscribe to TechnoKids and remain rest assured about your child’s internet usage.

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