On November 19, the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital released their National Poll on Children’s Health, which examined parents’ attitudes toward their children using the Internet. The poll
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found that, “more than four in five parents say their children use the Internet without adult supervision, but at the same time almost two-thirds are worried about online predators.” The results of this poll remind us that education is the key to a safe online experience for our children.
The Internet opens an incredible world of opportunity for our children to learn and access information. New technologies have allowed for easier access to the Internet, with cell phones functioning as portable computers and high-speed Internet access has become a reality for most schools. As the online world is an integral part of our everyday lives, we should be responsible for teaching younger generations how to properly use the Internet and avoid any potential dangers.
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In order for children to realize the benefits of the Internet, parents need to educate them about what they could encounter online and the unintended consequences that might result from their actions. To be effective, this education should start sooner rather than later – as children as young as 2 and 3 years old are getting mobile devices. Guidelines and information, such as restrictions on use, regarding the online world are needed to help ensure that our kids are making safe and responsible decisions about their online activity. The National Poll on Children’s Health reveals that as parents, we are responsible for teaching our children about good digital citizenship and having comprehensive discussions about the impact of other’s behavior. With these discussions, parents will continue to worry while their kids may take unwise actions online that could haunt them well into the future.
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