Today is Safer Internet Day which is an EU wide initiative to promote a safer internet for all users, especially young people. It is promoted in Ireland by the PDST Technology in Education and Webwise. There are some very good tips for parents on the webwise website.
Social media has exploded over the last decade. With everything there are pros and cons. As parents we are constantly trying to protect our children against the cons. We cannot do this by putting our heads in the sand, we play an extremely important role in this and it is up to each and every one of us to educate ourselves about the internet, the new apps, the new texting codes that the kids use. Everyday there is something new and social media is constantly changing and we really need to be two steps ahead instead of having our kids educate us on what they want us to know!
Social Media is here to stay and used correctly it can enhance our lives. It should not be allowed take over our basic instincts of how we communicate with each other. We are now relying more and more on the written word alone, which is having disastrous effects in our society and is creating a more dangerous world for our children.
We can however turn this situation around, by taking a more active role in educating ourselves and our children, we also need to talk and share useful information with each other. It is time for us to take control and lead the way and show our children how to make social media work positively for all of us and teach them that it should not be the be all and end all, there is a lot more to life. In order to get the most from life you have to get out and live it and not watch it through a screen!
Below is a video which the Irish Independent has published. A 13-year-old YouTuber has taken a stance against online bullies in a moving new video as part of Safer Internet Day.
http://ie.reachout.com/2016/02/09/cyber-bullying-create-no-hate/