OPINION: Parents, It's Time to Step Up: Social Media is Raising Our Kids
Parents, wake up! Our kids are spending more and more time on the internet, and it's starting to raise them more than us. Consider the news – a teen girl with a pregnancy test, horrific videos of youths on the internet. That's a clear signal that something seriously went wrong.
The second time, parents were even involved and tough on their children. Today, however, most parents are too busy at work or glued in front of their own cell phones. Children are then left to learn life things from the internet and from peers, and that is not always a blessing.
Social media is present in every part of our lives now. It contributes a great deal to influencing the behavior and mindset of our children. If parents are absent or busy, kids refer to their phones for instruction. The internet has plenty of information available, but not much of it is useful. Teenagers, especially girls, are receiving advice on relationships, sex, and life from total strangers online instead of listening to their parents.
It's heartbreaking to see so many adolescents going viral for all the wrong reasons. Some are coming out naked in videos that find themselves leaking, and this is just shameful and tragic. But worse, now some are even sharing their own nudity online. This is not safe and goes to show that these kids are in crisis. They're simply too young to understand how this is going to ruin their lives yet, but they're being exposed and humiliated. And their parents? They're either oblivious or too up in it to even notice the signs.
One major issue is mothers becoming isolated from their daughters. Teenage girls go through so much change and struggle. They need their mothers more than ever. But if mothers are more worried about how they look or are attached to their phones, then their daughters learn to fend for themselves. And sometimes, they pay dearly for it.
How Can We Stop This From Getting Worse?
In order to bring this slide to a bad place, mothers need to take back their role as mentors and protectors. They need to be able to speak openly with their daughters, listen without screaming or belittling, and create a sanctuary for open discussion. Girls need someone to put their faith in so that they can lean on – not social media celebrities and gossip circles.
Mothers must teach their daughters about everyday things like sex, relationships, being accepted socially among friends, and what they think of their bodies. Mothers simply must do it before someone else does. And that someone might not be concerned about doing the best for their child. A mother must be a girl's first teacher, greatest friend, and role model.
In addition, parents also need to be good role models. If you're stuck on the phone or surfing through gossip on the internet all day, then your child will be the same. Be a good role model and use social media responsibly, treat people with kindness, and spend time with your family.
God placed those children in your care for a reason. Don't let the world bring them up through social media or strangers. Be home, be kind, and be engaged. Today is tomorrow's yesterday, and what is done today will decide the destiny of your child. Don't wait until everything goes wrong right "under your roof" before you wake up.
Aisha, Writes from Bauchi and can be reach via +234 904 250 8200
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