Monitoring Child’s Online Activity is the Biggest Challenge
Have you ever thought of tech addiction in your times? This is a modern form of addiction introduced by the overuse of smartphones and the internet. Parents today are concerned about the tech use of their kids more than any other threat. There is no doubt technology is transforming our lives and we have the freedom to do anything through our devices. But being omnipresent, there are damaging our kids. All the apprehensions about the internet and smartphone use are being supplemented by a growing body of research every day. Another such study has corroborated these findings now for Monitoring Child’s Online Activity.
The relationship between children and parents’ media device use
Researchers at the University of Michigan have conducted research about the impact of screen media and mobile on the children and family dynamics. According to the study, most of the parents agree that monitoring their child’s online activity is one of the biggest challenges faced by them. The research titled, “A Naturalistic Study of Child and Family Screen Media and Mobile Device Use,” goes on to state that parents spend more time discussing the mobile device use. With their kids than monitoring what they are watching online or downloading on their devices.
This research comprised of a small population sample for 75 children and their families. It was led by researcher Sarah Domoff, a postdoctoral fellow at the University Of Michigan Center for Human Growth and Development. The children understudy had recording devices with them all the time. These devices recorded their conversations, the sounds around them, and the audible screen media use. The findings by the researchers revealed some unusual trends between the parents and their kids about the smart device use, especially how they communicated about the media among them. However, more concerning was the lack of conversation about the type of content children were watching online.
Interestingly, it was learned that other family members had a significant role when discussing content with the kids. This means, that children and not the parents initiated most of the conversations. About the contents and the siblings played a more active role in content mediation than their parents. Another concerning finding was that even the younger children or toddlers were exposed to more than one media sources simultaneously.
Any solutions to Monitor Child’s Online Activity?
It is challenging for the parents to be aware of everything that their kids are exposed to online. The content delivered via smartphones is especially difficult to monitor. That is why it is pertinent for the parents to devise some policies, rules, and settings. This can protect their kids from the harmful effects of online content.
- One way to do so is to utilize the privacy settings provided by different apps and smartphones in their settings. YouTube and Google have introduced restrictions in their programs to disable publishing certain content to the children. But this is only possible if you do it before handing over the device to the kid. Parents are right to turn to the monitoring apps for streamlining their kids’ smartphone use. Apps like Xnspy are offering multiple solutions to the parents for regulating their kids’ smartphone use. These apps are equipped with remote control abilities to monitor the device use. Thus relieving the parents from the painful act of taking away the gadgets from their kids.
- The researchers in this study also recommend developing a family plan for media devices’ use at home. A tool was developed in 2016 by the American Academy of Pediatrics that assisted the families in formulating rules and goals about the smart device users based on individual preferences.
- Parents also face financial hits when their children download paid apps. When a child comes across the advertising of a popular game, they rush to buy the game. Common Sense Media’s app review is a helpful facility for the parents to review apps.
- Moreover, parents can engage other children to help their siblings watch appropriate content.
The detailed Research
The aim of this research was to identify the patterns of parental mediation and family communication around mobile media devices to Monitoring Child’s Online Activity.
The research has been published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies.
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This is a Guest Post, but all the views are Authors
I agree. It’s such a huge challenge to monitor the online activity of kids. I still feel that watching TV is better because atleast you know what they are watching and we have the power to censor the unwanted stuff.
It is a big challenge for sure but necessary to monitor kids screen time. This is an informative post on it.
If there is a transparency between the parent and the child, in that case the fear of having to monitor the child reduces.
but it is a good thing to monitor their online activities and screen time. They are quite vulnerable and there are lots of trouble lurking out there.
Privacy settings are a good way to make sure that kids don’t come across inappropriate content online. Monitoring their online use is important.
Screen time and gadget addiction with kids is a major problem in today’s time. Thanks for this informative article on how we can tackle this better.
This is surely a vital topic that must be discussed more often and yes I agree monitoring screen time is so vital
Totally agree! It is very essential to keep an eye on kids online activity and limited screen time is a must. Valid points raised by you.
You have written the need of the hour topic as I see kids being trained to glue to screen from babies so monitoring needs to be done and these techniques will help the parents
This is really important for us to know as parent. The web world is tricky and we sure have to monitor our kid’s online activities.
no doubt we really need to keep watching what are kids doing on internet so well written post thank for sharing such helpful post…
This is an interesting post, Gunjan & very well written. It’s not easy to keep kids away from screens all the time hence it’s necessary to at least monitor what they are doing online.
Yesterday my son done the same thing , while playing game . He download paid app. These are really great tips
It’s really important to monitor kids screen time…perfectly written!!
Interesting post. Well researched and informative write up that can benefit all parents.
Yes, it’s very important to monitor a child’s online activity because we never know what they might come across.
I agree buddy it is extremely vital to monitor our kids screen time and this is such a vital post in this regard.
I agree buddy it is extremely vital to monitor our kids screen time and this is such a vital post in this regard
Keeping an eye on what kids are watching is really important. We as a parent need to limit our screen time in order to teach our kids what is right.
As a mom I know technology is nowadays important for my daughter who is 10 and need daily for some or other work to access the internet but now It’s my responsibility to set up time and keep a watch, and happy that she follows the rules..It all depends how we are telling them its right and wrong usage
It’s a challenge for parents to monitor their child’s usage of smartphones and other devices. My son is too young to use a device independently but I definitely fear the time when he will ask for his own smartphone. Your post came as a relief, I had no idea there are so many ways to keep a check on online activity & monitor the device usage.
We parents should be careful about our own screen timing or online activities because children learn things from their surrounding only.
My neice was out of control and my bhaiya bhabhi found some miss in her nature and found n issue with her behavior
. This is one of the hot topics going on! It’s important for the parents to watch the kids while they do the screentime! The more the internet grows the more the problem arises!
This is really a great challenge to have a track on what children are watching or doing. I keep an eye on my daughter also while she uses my phone
one of the biggest challenges for kids is to control screen time. Probably we are culprits for this addiction, but still can be contained. Must use and restrain them,
You have shed light on an important topic. Since technology is easily accessible to kids these days, it becomes important that parents monitor their online activities.
gadgets and kids have become very common these days. You really can’t keep them away always. but its better we monitor them. i give youtube kids to my son.
A very important piece of information. I’m glad you shared this. There are things that I should take care too!!
Parents who do no-screen parenting deserves an applause. We can only lead by example. If we as parents are glued to screen browsing, instagramming and all how can kids not follow us..
it is extremely important for parents to identify what their kids are watching. I do not give my mobile to my kids, and also a keen interest in what they are watching on TV.
These are some very useful suggestions. New age parenting is facing new challenges and you have to find solutions that will hit the problem without closing the communication channels.
A must read for all the parents as we all know about online browsing habits of our kids. Well, it is indeed true that kids observe and then imitate what the parents do so we have to keep an eye on our gadget usage as well.
Kids today are gadget geeks and their activity span moves across various genres. Monitoring is necessary but not at the cost of them doubting our intentions. Such research outcomes also point out the same drawback of technology.
You have picked up a very important topic.As a parent we are all worried about our kids spending time with Smartphones/Gadgets and the contents they are exposed to.Proper monitoring is the need of the hour.
I believe technology can be both important as well a threat with the way it is being used. For sure monitoring kid’s activities will surely help.
These days monitoring is so important. Kids tend to grasp the habit from adults. We should interact more and keep less of digital time
kids are become addicted to media and gadgets. So it is really important to monitoring digital activities of kids.
Exactly monitoring is important
I think its high time that we lead by example. The best way to curb this issue from rising is that elders and adults in the house should limit the technology and gadgets use first and then slowly involve the child in other activities. If the use of technology and internet would get limited for necessary reasons then this can be controlled.
Also if parents can have proper settings on gadgets and keep a tab on online activities regularly. Being vigilant is the key.
Rightly said being vigilant is the key. Thank you for dropping by
These days kids are so much influenced by social media and internet as we as parents should monitor their activity on social media or internet very strictly..
So true, its us who need to keep a control on ourself and them
Very profound. I must say that I am trying to control my child’s screen time from now onwards. She is just 2 and with the advent of blue whale like games controlling screen time has become must.
Monitoring screen time gets tricky sometimes. If we attain child’s trust and understanding then the barrier is little easy to cross.
Cheers
MeenalSonal from AuraOfThoughts
True, we cannot keep away from digital gadgets but monitoring their digital activity is equally important. With so many apps to download, their should be strict mandates of the safety protocols.
Its very important to limit screen time for kids…what they are watching and for how much time needs to be closely tracked by parents
I absolutely loved the subject of this blog post. I couldn’t agree more about the impact of content. Even as adults we know how content can play up your mind and mental health, so when it comes to kids, it’s even more sensitive.
I agree with you… Kids are getting exposed to a lot of things on social media and internet! It is very important for parents to monitor this and privacy/kids friendly settings would play a big role in this… Very informative post!
This information is true and scarily accurate. I think parents need to limit their own use of technology so that children can learn from them.