"Content Control and Guidance: Short Exposures Can Have Lasting Effects"

 

Most parents teach their kids to cross the road safely before letting them try it alone, and they probably guide them through using public transportation before feeling comfortable with their child encountering strangers.

Today, these real-world scenarios are unfolding online, and children need guidance to navigate them. It’s easy to assume that being at home means they're safe online, but that’s not always the case. That’s why it’s important to use parental controls, initiate conversations, and regularly talk to your child about online dangers.

For frame of reference, Kaspersky has identified the top 7 dangers kids face online:

1. Cyberbullying
2. Cyber predators
3. Posting private information
4. Phishing
5. Falling for scams
6. Accidentally downloading malware
7. Posts that could haunt them later in life

 

It's a daunting list, and I was surprised malware wasn't ranked higher. Interestingly, 90% of teens believe cyberbullying is a problem.

In today’s tech-driven world, children have 24/7 access to technology, and the age at which a child receives their first smartphone keeps dropping. In the UK, 91% of kids receive a smartphone between ages 9 and 11. With this access, they engage with various apps, including social media, games, messaging, and informational apps. Unfortunately, this has changed how predators operate, as they now lurk in any app that attracts children, usually pretending to be kids themselves. This can happen alarmingly fast.

Nearly all gaming and social media apps now include chat functions, making it easier for predators to target child profiles, spamming them until one responds. After posing as kids themselves, they start the grooming process by desensitizing children with inappropriate content. My friend Jen, who started a charity in Australia called "Not My Kid," has become a speaker and advocate on this topic. Jen was always cautious—limiting app access, setting time restrictions, and allowing device use only in common areas. But when her 9-year-old daughter played a game at a friend’s house, she was groomed there. The impact was profound: it took two years for her daughter to speak about the experience openly, and she faced years of mental health challenges. Jen’s story is a reminder that even brief interactions with predators, without any in-person contact, can have lasting effects.

For young children, I would have added exposure to pornography to the list of online dangers. Seeing such images can deeply influence a child's understanding of relationships. Gone are the days when access was limited to magazines hidden behind a piece of cardboard at the corner shop or tucked away in a questionable aisle at the video rental store—now, it’s all just a click away. Some studies suggest that 27% of internet content is pornographic.

The issue isn’t just accessibility; it’s also how these sites use algorithms, similar to those of big tech companies, to keep users engaged. They employ endless scrolls and increasingly shocking content to keep people hooked—sometimes, unable to look away. The effects of this are noticeable across generations. Children’s curiosity is natural, but the internet has made navigating this curiosity much more complex for parents. Any internet-connected device, even smartwatches, can access explicit content.

A school resource officer in the States, Officer Gomez, shares parental advice on Facebook, where he has 286,000 followers. He often addresses this topic, and when asked about the right age to give a child a smartphone, his response is, “Whenever you are comfortable with them seeing pornography.” It’s a stark reminder of the reality parents face today.

Because of these issues and others mentioned on the list, there is a growing movement in many countries to ban mobile phones in schools. Jonathan Haidt, an NYU professor, recently released a book called The Anxious Generation, offering compelling data on why this could be beneficial. Additionally, some groups have formed to help parents form pacts to delay giving their children smartphones, ensuring kids don’t feel isolated. If you’re interested in more information about these movements, feel free to reach out.

I hope this information has been helpful and encourages families to start conversations about these important issues.

Wishing all parents and educators the best as they navigate the joys and challenges of raising children in this digital age. 

 

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Ana Puchi is a mother of 3 boys: 14, 9 and 7.  An Ambassador for ScreenStrong, and Founder of MYPAX.  She is also available to talk to schools and parents about Kids Brains and Screens anytime.