The compelling British drama ‘Adolescence’ that both captivated and shocked viewers has raised urgent questions about parents’ involvement in their children’s online lives.
The negative consequences of allowing children and teenagers unrestricted access to the internet and social media have been outlined repeatedly by psychologists, doctors, educators, youth workers and others who work directly with young people, who have seen these consequences first hand: worsening mental health, increased rate of anxiety, online bullying, social isolation.
Even in the slow-moving, cautious world of academic research, there is a growing consensus around the negative impacts of social media on the mental health of young people. Last August, the Irish Medical Organisation, called for smartphone and social media usage to be treated as a public health emergency.
Yet the response from our government is that ‘self-regulation’ by these tech companies will protect our children from damaging content or addiction. These companies however will not compromise their enormous profits by removing access. They’ve introduced ‘teen accounts’: keeping our teenagers hooked but restricting them to certain content that any savvy teenager has already figured a way around.
Instead, schools and parents have taken their own initiative. Schools have no-phone policies that are generally adhered to by most students.
As a teacher, I know that students themselves recognise the benefits of these phone bans for the reprieve it brings them from the relentless, addictive, mindless impulse to scroll. As self-aware as any adult, they readily acknowledge that being on their phones for hours every day is harmful to their wellbeing.
There’s also growing momentum from parents choosing to delaying their child’s use of smartphones and social media until the age of 16, with groups of parents signing a pledge not to buy their child a smartphone when they begin their secondary school journey.
We need to support parents in this. My own children will be entering secondary school over the next few years, and we’ve already taken a decision to restrict their access to social media until they’re 16. We’ll get them a ‘dumb’ phone.
Allowing them to use the applications they need to use that are appropriate for their age. Anything else is unnecessary.
If you’re a like-minded parent, go to www.smartphonefree.ie and find a group in Galway planning on taking similar collective action.”
