For a long time, parents worldwide have stressed over the use of social media platforms for their children.
Gone are the days of imaginative creative play in the big outdoors, climbing trees, building fortes, seeing in mind’s eye the aircraft flight deck with all the instruments.
Now it’s been young people getting about as young as eight with mobile phones grafted to their hands who have no idea what I am referring to in the above description.
Climbing trees? Why? Building a What?
The reform for change over minors interacting on big online platforms comes as a relief for concerned parents who are dealing with issues like the rise in teen suicide from relentless bullying that festers in the schoolyard and turns rotten over social media.
It also remains a serious concern when children as young as nine or ten believe they need to sexualize themselves online in order to gain a following and only then can they believe they are worthwhile human beings.
With the prevalence of online predators and the threat of human trafficking, especially with the acceleration now of simulated persons by way of artificial intelligence, the unsavory are better equipped then ever to pretend to be what they are not.
This could present as false representational identities of idolized celebrities or so-called golden opportunities that time and again we see are offered to the elderly but now, are targeted at young people or the generally vulnerable as a whole.
There could be holidays offered or fame and fortune, all baited traps.
Parents who think they know their kids can be shocked to discover these same children have secret lives going on, particularly with the reinforced learning model catering for individual choice and rights like never before in school curriculum.
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At what cost has the focus been on allowing our young people to feel empowered?
There has been notable acceleration in actively encouraging children to follow paths of supposed freedom as though discovering for instance, that a child feels they are transgender and that it is good for them before they have even hit puberty, or being taught about what it means to be categorized as such and how to choose that course before they even know how to drive a car or learned other base know how’s in life.
It’s a confronting truth.
The issue is not whether somebody has a right to decide what is personally best for themselves.
We all deserve respect for our differences and the right to choice, but what it does narrow in on is the fact that some life choices that we would place in an adult category like drinking alcohol for instance, must also be considered not fit for children.
Again, the parallel here between deciding to go out as transgender and drinking alcohol is not used as one for comparison between the two choices as being alike, but as an example of decisions that would not be considered a long-term healthy mind and body choice for those not in a position to make good, sound judgements for themselves yet, as is the case in children aged under 18.
For those that do believe it is necessary in schools for their children to be informed and taught about alternative future lifestyles that they might enjoy by choosing now, and feel they have personally benefited as parents and students, of course, that is truly their prerogative, but we also don’t want to ignore consideration of the bigger picture for others in society who also have a right to their choices and views, rather then simply having to make way for a minority mindset.
We must find grounds for respect of each other’s differences.
Hear each other, allow one another room to just be, without necessarily having to agree.
Xavior Geis.
Insistence on one point of view only ever leads to arguments and hate rather then cooperative solutions.
Xavior Geis.
Willingness to compromise and work together is key.
Xavior Geis.
Ideals of what constitutes as freedom-of-choice starting with children in preschool at two to three years of age in educational and childcare centres, gives rise to the question of how such a thing fits in with laws that mandate pedophilia for example, a wicked crime, yet the victims of sexual predators are seemingly being prepared by way of early conditioning without the parents knowing exactly what is being taught at schools.
That’s something to really think about.
Kids have been subject to a vast array of topics and inappropriate reading material they can loan out from their school library.
Ask Questions / Stay Informed.
If parents are not privy to what their children, considered by law as ‘dependents’ are deciding for themselves, then how can parents do their natural job of caretaker and protector?
It’s telling parents that they have failed without them having any idea about what they need to know in order to be good parents to begin with.
And if kids do end up being abused, how does it look if a perpetrator says that they followed protocol and asked the child first if they could change their nappy and the child agreed. - Consent. Are you kidding?!
By allowing this early conditioning of young minds is the system not encouraging and supporting that which in turn it revolts against?
The black and white facts are in our faces.
Drastic changes have been warranted and hence the decision by the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese in twenty twenty-five to enforce the social media ban.
It should be highlighted however, that what is discussed here is not what the Australian prime minister has spoken about at length, he has focused on mental well-being and how too much screen time is proven to affect kids and their academic achievements. But clearly the ban involves so much more.
It would be accurate to state that the social media system hasn’t been empowering but wholly endangering.
It has fueled that which we must condemn.
By normalizing certain behaviors early, then a new generation grows up without questions over what can be emotionally and physically traumatizing to them in the long run.
Xavior Geis.
There are parents who have been considerably pro-active about what is permitted within schools, campaigning for change for a long time.
YouTube* is a great place to watch some of these parents in action, supporting their children and addressing the education board for improved regulation. *
Australia, as of the tenth of December twenty twenty-five became the first country to lead in the right direction by sanctioning a ban for users of social media platforms, sixteen years of age and under.
What it shows is that the societal view of what is deemed liberating has somehow missed its mark, forcing a move for much tighter security measures.
It is a wakeup call that demands action in all areas and educational formats working directly with our children.
The good news for some users of social media platforms is that for now, sites like Roblox and Discord remain open due to these sites being categorized as gaming platforms, but because Discord for one, includes messaging, voice and video calls, the platform is being carefully scrutinized with further assessment in progress.
NOT BANNED
WhatsApp, Roblox, Steam, Messenger, YouTube Kids, Discord
BANNED
YouTube, TicTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat
The not-banned options do not operate the same as the banned social media networks as they are predominately areas used for gaming or digital correspondence but in light of the heavy clamp down in Australia, it would be reasonable to conclude that far greater parental awareness over what their children are using social media services for, and with whom is paramount as there could be a massive flux in young users turning to these non-banned sites to make up for the loss.
Facetime and video calls can still be risky tools if not properly monitored by parents and used responsibly.
If violations of responsible use of any sites are discovered by parents, then filing a report with the Australian esafety commissioner is advised.
To do this go to: esafety.gov.au/parents and carers or esafety.gov.au/schools
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BEFORE SHARING CONTENT:
Make sure you are over sixteen years of age before using social media.
Get the other persons permission in writing if you wish to share something that includes someone beside yourself. Verbal consent alone won’t cut it if there is ever a dispute later on.
Never share personal information like addresses, emails and phone numbers on social media without proof of consent and it is a business or number made for the public.
Be responsible in your use of social media platforms and do not spread inappropriate reading material or links that is graphic, glorifies sexual, physical or emotional abuse of people or animals.
Consider the repercussion of sharing what you think is funny or entertaining today but could well be humiliating and embarrassing tomorrow.
Messaging platforms are made available to allow people to stay connected in a positive way. Video calls allow facetime with friends and family that might live overseas or are ill and housebound, in hospital or in socially isolating situations.
These are a few guidelines on positive user practice.
Always use common sense and set a good example for other users.
Xavior Geis
*Persons shown on YouTube have no affiliation with the author of this article and may or may not be in Australia where the first ban was declared. The author takes a neutral perspective on sharing sensitive subjects for the goal of this article and the rights individuals may themselves choose to live by.