The concern over my eldest offspring beginning secondary school is the increasing necessity for a smartphone. Despite the prevalent potential for cyberbullying and inappropriate material exposure, I’m concerned about him feeling excluded if I resist. Many parents share this concern as technology advances propel children into new challenging environments. It’s hoped that schools, parents and tech companies realise their shared responsibility to protect youngsters from harmful online content.
A recent effort to curb online dangers has been spearheaded by the online safety commissioner, who has established a online safety code that is now legally binding. This code, aimed at curbing harmful content, necessitates certain measures by social media platforms, with repercussions for non-compliance including civil or criminal penalties.
The worry of a child feeling ostracised for not having a smartphone is prevalent among parents. On the other hand, potential alterations to the apprenticeship system have stirred concerns about reputation issues. Graduates sharing their experiences insist that their later-in-life university experience brings a powerful sense of gratitude. Studies have indicated that degree completion is less likely for Susi grant recipients.
The Minister for Education, Norma Foley, has publicly expressed her desire for a school ban on smartphones. I believe the escalating mental health challenges among children are directly linked to rampant access to inappropriate content and the internet in general. The question of how to halt the flow of invasive online content targeting children is one that governments worldwide continue to grapple with.
Parents are at liberty to decide whether to provide their child with a smartphone and if so, set up built-in parental controls to prevent website access to inappropriate content. A viable alternative for parents concerned about their child’s location is to buy a bi-directional tracker watch, available for a €5-€15 monthly fee, that reveals the child’s whereabouts via GPS. These devices offer voice/video and text capabilities but no internet access.
Alongside shielding youngsters, there is a requirement to equip them with the skills to handle this precarious digital landscape. Relationship and sexuality education has been modernised for junior cycle students and recently updated for senior cycle and primary students. However, many educators feel unease in discussing explicit aspects of the curriculum, such as inappropriate websites and pornography.
In response to the unveiling of the new topic outlines, the teachers’ associations have voiced that no educator can be compelled to discuss these topics with their pupils unless there’s a clear consensus. The crux of the matter hinges on parents addressing these delicate subjects within the confines of their homes. At times, parents and their offspring might find dialogue about such topics challenging when they’re facing one another. Casual talks in situations where the child is in the back seat of the car while the parent is driving could make these discussions less intense. The central concern is that dialogues with children concerning the healthy use of our bodies should become commonplace, ranging from familial affection to tender expressions within an intimate relationship, underscoring our regard and fondness for one another, and this should begin from an early age.