A recent UNICEF study highlighted that almost 9% of boys aged 10 to 20 spend more than five hours a day on social networks during the week, a figure which rises to almost 20% on weekends … week, a situation that leads 25% of parents to argue every week about their children’s excessive use of technology. This is a question that is causing more and more concern in different areas, not only family, but also educational, social and linked to the mental health of these young people.
The question, as Diana Al Azem, educator and founder of Positive Adolescence, explained during the celebration of ‘Shared course: You also learn to accompany, organized by Meta, it is not to avoid discussions, “the important thing is to know how to support them in responsible use of screens and, above all, to be very clear on the red lines that they must not cross. We must support them without forgetting that we are references and that is why we must give them a good example of our use of the technology available to them. Furthermore, no child is born indigenous, understands, or understands, he also doesn’t know how to manage a mobile device. We are all learners, and in this process it is essential to be very present as parents and ask them questions outside of the school environment, because It seems like we only care about his grades and homework.and get to know them, get closer to their world so as not to lose the connection because, as the neuroscientist David Bueno has already pointed out, the average conversation with our children has been reduced at five hours a week“.
He insisted that we need to know their world “and for this it is essential that there is always an open dialogue at home, not just on the digital issue. Otherwise, we’ll continue to have this high percentage of miners who continue to keep their worries, what’s happening to them, to themselves, or trusting their peers as the first people to turn to when they really have a major technology-related problem. we can’t allow it»
In the same spirit, it was declared Laura Cuesta, specialist in digital education in a family environment, believing that the education, training and support of minors in the digital environment are essential, “because even if We know that children and adolescents are subjects of protectionare also subject to rights. This is why we must find this constant balance between the duty we have towards families, teachers, administrations, institutions, governments, platforms… to ensure this security but, of course, to also guarantee the right “They need to be able to communicate with their peers, participate and learn in this digital environment that is now their environment.”
He emphasized that facing the risks that we are discovering due to the increasing use of technology, many families, teachers and institutions are choosing to limit and control excessively. “The solution is not to ban, but to teach them how the platforms work and to support them in their use because for adolescents it is an ecosystem in which they fully flourish. Families must understand that they must move from control to support; That is, we cannot have children and adolescents totally monitored, hyper-vigilant, hyper-controlled…. We must choose the digital culture and gradually bring them closer to technology, teaching and educating them so that ultimately they can use it in a way conscious, critical, healthy and responsible, but always with the rules and limits that we will establish in this use of the devices.
Laura Cuesta insisted that families must understand that we are in a new environment and that adolescents understand technology not as a media, but as an environment, an ecosystem that they use today to socialize, communicate, build, create, innovate, entertain themselves, deepen their studies… “They use them constantly. So we are going to teach them what platforms are, how each application works, what opportunities and risks imply… so that they know in advance, from a very young age, what is there, because, as we always say, having technology does not mean knowing technology“.
During the day, Isabelle Cuesta, founder of Educa en Positivo, with Maria Zabaladigital education expert, emphasized that you don’t need to be a technology expert to guide: the main thing is to be presentestablish clear guidelines, educate on values and promote trust. “We must not be afraid, fear can neutralize us and what we must do is understand the needs of our children and, at the same time, protect them. It is necessary – underlined Isabel Cuesta – not only digital support, but emotional, where we actively listen and encourage conversation, which allows us to win a good share.
“Having a huge desire to put an end to your emotions is real training for falling into addictions”
He explained that the problem is that on social networks you get used to it see idyllic families, which makes us not understand what frustration, fear, sadness are… “Ultimately, many parents want to educate in emotions, but without wanting their children to be sad. This is why, he warns, if you don’t know how to manage anger, when a child has a tantrum, his father gives in and gives him his cell phone. You have to know how to set limits and that ‘I accompany you in the feeling’ It is not intended to be spoken only at funerals; You have to know how to help them understand what they feel. Having a huge desire to put an end to your emotions is real training for falling into addictions.
In the opinion of Maria Zabala, We lack digital culture and more information is needed and with greater scientific rigor. “The lack of rigorous information can lead us to think that the consumption of any technology is something negative and it paralyzes to families. This is the world we have had to live in and we have to understand our role as parents and learn how to use technology before leaving it to our children. We need to know how to support our children before giving them a cell phone or allowing them to access a social network. Access to technology, in any case, it must be progressivedepending on the child’s age and autonomy, and always accompanied by their parents.
From right to left: Laura Cuesta, Diana Al Azem, María Zabala and Isabel Cuesta
For the general manager of Meta for Spain and Portugal, Irene Cano, It is also necessary for parents to be present and support their children in using technology, “but without being invasive; “We must support, but without judging,” he declared. He added that the digital well-being of adolescents “This is one of the company’s priorities, as is the importance of joint work between institutions, technology companies, experts and families.”
And, in this attempt, during the celebration of the event, the following was noted: recommendations for parents regarding children’s use of technology:
Take an interest in your tastes and their digital activity, keeping abreast of the environment in which they operate.
Use Internet content think together, avoiding messages based solely on fear.
Practice blocking or reporting, and learn how to walk away from uncomfortable conversations without guilt.
Enjoy parental controls as protection tools, explaining the difference between known and unknown.
Avoid oversharing and talk about privacy as part of your safety and well-being.
Encourage critical use and not an impulsive Internet, learn to compare information.
Educate about technology as part of vital growth, knowing that few risks are exclusively digital.
Lead by example with responsible use, promoting self-esteem and creating screen-free moments.
Maintain open communication involve them in decision-making and adapt the rules according to their maturity.
Avoid simplistic solutions, offer calm, informed and realistic support.
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