How to Parent in the Age of Cyberbullying, Trolls, and Momo
Even with the best intentions in the world, we can’t monitor everything
Being a parent in the digital age brings on more responsibilities than our ancestors prepared us for. Content is available on demand, messages are instant, and lives can be harmed in the blink of an eye. Our lives are busy, and I’m sure we’ve all been guilty of temporarily handing our children over to the digital babysitter. I’ve done it — whether it was because of work, chores, cooking dinner, or just wanting to watch a movie, I’ve been guilty of giving my 5-year-old child a tablet or phone to watch. For the most part, I think I know what he is consuming — Baby Sharks, Ryan ToysReviews, Mario, Minecraft, Kirby gaming videos, or songs about locating mommy and daddy fingers — but I can’t say I know every single thing he watches.
I recall an occasion last year where my 4-year-old was playing with his bigger cousin, whom he adores, and then out of the blue he called her a bitch. Between the shock, horror, and embarrassment, I tried to recall where he would have heard such terminology. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no saint, but it’s not something I tend to use. Shit or fuck’s sake maybe, as I’m easily frustrated, not to mention clumsy. Only a few weeks later, my nephew told me he had a similar issue with his…
