Australia to ban social media for those under 16: What should parents do to protect their kids?

Studies have shown that children who walk much than 3 hours a time connected societal media are doubly arsenic apt to acquisition intelligence wellness issues similar slump and anxiousness based connected images of what they don’t person successful their lives. Exposure to societal media is highly disruptive, causing distractions during classes oregon homework time. Browsing platforms connected mobile phones before bedtime tin pb to mediocre slumber prime and quantity. Frequent societal media usage tin change parts of the encephalon that are related to emotions and learning. This is important arsenic the quality encephalon develops a consciousness of individuality and self-worth betwixt the ages of 10 and 19.

Limiting societal media usage tin importantly trim chances of cyberbullying, online harassment and assemblage shaming. As societal beings, children trust much connected texting and societal media, which tin trim their quality to pass successful existent time.

Additionally, limiting app clip tin promote children to walk much clip outdoors, prosecute successful carnal play, hobbies and pb healthier lifestyles. Excessive usage of societal media apps tends to marque children much sedentary.

But tin a prohibition enactment connected children who person already been exposed?

Those successful their aboriginal teens are often resistant to restrictions and whitethorn rebel against immoderate benignant of restriction. They whitethorn consciousness entitled to person the aforesaid entree to exertion arsenic their peers elsewhere. This absorption could pb to conflicts betwixt parents and children, creating interpersonal accent and mistrust.

Bans don’t work. For example, banning substances similar intoxicant tin often pb to accrued use. So, tech savvy kids whitethorn find ways to circumvent it. Besides, it whitethorn impact their mode of processing online connection later.

What’s champion then?

A amended solution is acquisition and integer literacy — explaining the benefits and risks of societal media and helping children make self-discipline erstwhile it comes to utilizing their devices. Ongoing connection and guidance volition assistance children debar excessive use. Create a household media usage plan, prohibition bedtime use, acceptable boundaries for accessing contented and promote in-family connection and conversations.

(Dr Shaunak Ajinkya is psychiatrist, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai)