Digital Sprocket

Usually when the media cover this topic it is from a place of either alarmist hysteria or vague theoretical suggestions. Statements like, “the internet is full of dangerous and potentially harmful individuals,” are just as unhelpful as, “parents should be engaged in their children’s online activities.”  Parents need some simple, straightforward, and effective methods for dealing with the confusing challenges of raising children in this digital age.

When I was a child I was bombarded with numerous admonitions. Don’t play with knives. Don’t talk to strangers. Look both ways before you cross the street. Never get into a stranger’s car. Don’t eat the red berries. Of course my parents presented me with these truths whenever necessary, but I also received the same messages from Sesame Street, and the myriad of other children’s television programs, songs, and other media. This is what we need as a first step towards protecting our children in the Internet enhanced world we live in.

I don’t have all of the answers, but we could start with something like, “Ask your parents before giving out your address.” This one is good because it works in physical situations as well as digital ones. Maybe we could add, “introduce your parents to all new online friends.” This would give parents a chance to vet the people their children stumble across in online communities. This is not a complete list, but rather a starting point for the conversation. If we can put together a few effective messages, we can add them to the regular list of admonitions and safety bits included in the popular media or similar places.

That’s just my two bits.