Digital Connect: Sharing Experiences with Parents Benefits Children’s Media Literacy

Author: Jabari Evans

Date: October 16, 2017

Link: https://www.digitalethics.org/essays/digital-connect-sharing-experiences-parents-benefits-childrens-media-literacy

First Impression: The essay probably talks about how parents should teach their children to be media literate to avoid problems when using social media.

Quote: “Just as we need to learn to drive a car safely, we need to learn how to drive the internet safely.”

Reflection: 

Before, when social media was not present, parents and their children have better communication and relationship with one another since they have more time bonding with one another, there were no Facebook or Instagram that bothered their conversations and no technologically advanced smartphones that sends notifications during conversations which causes attention to the conversation to shift away. Today, with parents having an increased usage on social media, it is a must that they teach their children the proper ways of using social media and turn them into social architects. If there are some parts that the parents do not understand, it is just right that they explore those parts, together with their children and teach them how to distinguish the good from the bad. Parents should also be updated on what new technologies are, since every day, more and more technologies are being developed. They must teach their children the ethics of using different applications/technologies. Before giving their children the freedom to browse social media, they must first monitor their children’s media usage and determine whether or not they are ready to be independent when using media platforms. As mentioned in the essay, we must learn how to drive a car safely, the same applies to internet usage. We also must learn how to use the internet safely.

5 Things I Learned

1. Parents believe that monitoring their children’s media usage is more important than respecting their privacy.

2. Parents are concerned about their children’s social media usage.

3. Parents should guide their children on how to use social media before letting them browse independently.

4. Parents should learn the best practices of parenting and spend more time with their children rather than browsing through social media.

5. People should be informed on the best practices on how to use social media.

5 Integrative Questions

1. When is the right time that a parent should trust his child to independently use social media?

2. How do we determine if someone is media literate?

3. Is it ethical for a parent to keep track of his child’s social media usage when he/she is already media literate?

4. What is the best way for a parent to teach his/her children the proper use of social media?

5. With different technologies being developed everyday, how are parents supposed to adjust to these new technologies?