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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

 

8A TV, the Internet and Gaming

• What did you find helpful or interesting in this section of the film?
• How do you approach “screen time” with your children? How much TV, streaming, internet or video gaming do you think is good for them?
• Do you supervise the content of what they are watching? How? What are the challenges?

 

8B Smartphones and Social Media

• What did you find helpful or interesting in this section of the film?
• What are the benefits and risks of children having a smartphone? What are the benefits and risks of social media for children?
• What decisions have you made about phone use and social media for your children? What are the challenges? Are there any good alternatives?
• Have your local schools given good advice or made any policies about smartphones and social media?

 

SOME KEY IDEAS FROM THE SESSION

Fr Stephen writes: “When I was growing up there were three channels on the TV, the telephone was fixed to the wall in the dining room, and my dad’s greatest fear was that I would waste money by calling the speaking clock to find out the correct time.

Things are very different today, and one of the hardest questions a parent faces is about screen time, social media and the mobile phone. What do you allow your children to do? How can you control something you don’t even understand yourself? What is truly good for them, and what will do them harm? And even if you think you know the right answer, how can you explain that to them if they and all their friends think in a different way?”

Technology and the modern media can be good things, but they can also take over a child’s life, and sometimes do great damage. This is true of television, the Internet, mobile phones, computer games, etc.

There are two extremes to avoid. One is to hide children from all forms of technology and media. It’s simply not possible, and it would deprive them of knowledge and skills they will need in later life. The second extreme is to be naive as a parent, letting the children find their own way, without any boundaries, as if it is all harmless.

Your family will find much more happiness and peace if you can regulate the use of technology and media, and be watchful about the content, and keep talking honestly and openly about the effects of using the different media.

Smartphones are everywhere, and many children are using them by the time they get to senior school, or even before. There are definitely some benefits. But there is more and more evidence about the harm that smartphones and social media can cause.

It’s partly the content: it’s frightening how easy it is for children to access pornography, violence, extreme content, and other inappropriate materials. It’s partly the negative effect of social media: it can lead to bullying, isolation, low self-image, and it can be an opening for blackmail and grooming. But it’s also the addictive nature of smartphone apps: the scrolling and clicking changes the brain, and can lead to anxiety, depression, lower academic achievement and behavioural problems.

Parents often feel helpless. They know the risks, but they worry that their children will feel left out or bullied if they don’t have a phone. They might want to set good boundaries and limit the mobile phone use, but they know that children can get round boundaries, and they often understand the technology better than their parents.

Thank goodness there is a lot more discussion and support than there used to be. More and more schools are aware of the dangers and have stricter rules about phone use. They are trying to work against the peer pressure that makes both children and parents feel that smartphones are a necessity. And there are some great online support groups and campaigns, like “Smartphone Free Childhood” and “Kids For Now” in the UK, and “Wait Until 8th” in the United States.

You need to make your own decisions as a parent, rather than just following the crowd. What do you truly think is best for your child?