Parents and Technology

As I'm sure most of you are aware, the news and media in recent years have often broadcast "experts" who talk about how children and teenagers are online too much.

I recently saw a parent on BBC news who said she allows her children online no more than 30 minutes per day and was urging other parents to do the same. I discussed this with my mum, starting off with "What else are we meant to do?" She had no idea.

I think that parents and these so called experts need to move with the times and realise that technology is advancing. Life now revolves around technological advances and not reading a book or playing a board game.

What do you guys think?

 

30 mins a day is harsh but i think any parent would worry if a majority of their childs life was at a desk on the computer instead of going out with friends developing important life skills etc.

 

stasior is right, 30 minutes a day is a little too strict. Children still need to develope social skills and stay healthy, both physically and mentally.
This isn't really 'SFA worthy' though. This would be better placed in General Discussion.

 

They worry to much media has no relationship to the growing numbers of obese kids in America. But seriously 30 minutes is just harsh.

 

if i was that moms child id tell her to suck my fuckin balls and just keep playing.

i feel like a nerd for saying this, but i get annoyed when i have no internet, like not just being on all the time, but knowing that i cant just get on when i want

 

How old were these kids?

 

I wouldn't say that life revolves around computers, but they certainly are an important part of modern day life. Parents are right in wanting to limit the amount of time their children spend on the internet, but only to some extent. Balance between computer and other stuff is very important.

 

30 mins is very strict :O
Yeah your right, its not like were gunna read a book all day :/

 

it's good for younger kids, but at the age of 15 they should decide it themselves. My mum always wanted to restrict my time, but she failed badly ;x

 

i think children should be limited on their amount of time spent on video games or the computer. I used to know this family that had a younger son with Autism. they would just give him a gameboy to play all day and he would sit there and talk to it and get like 100% involved in this game and be in his own little world to where you literally had to physically touch him before he would respond or realize that you've been yelling at him. Its sad really that they use that because they cant give their kid the attention he needs.

As far as limiting time on computers or video games go, I think that parents should limit their kids time until they are around 16 or 17 when they can make their own responsible choices regarding their usage. I think 15 is too young because that seems to be an age where people play video games heavily.

 

Why only limit children? From personal experience since the age of 12 i have been on a computer online at least 5 hours a day. I developed perfectly fine the only thing of note is i don't have an insanely vast amount of friends but i am okay with that

 

well, you tell me how your going to limit a grown adult to his computer time.

 

With regards to older people, grand parents and such, I believe it is good to get them implicated in today's technologies. For example just having them check an e-mail and write one keeps they're mind thinking, working, moving and not stuck rotting there. This allows them to stay 'sane' and not develop serious medical conditions such as Alzheimer.

 

Age of 15 your a teenager, im 17 don't deem myself adult yet. No one has ever restricted my time because common sense teaches me that i should be out making friends, getting fresh air, regular excercise etc. The computer isn't central to our lives it may be important for work and fun for enterteinment but far from central.

How do you know you developed fine since you didn't live without the computer since the age of 12. On the friends note it should bother you my friends are on par with my family my gf being to me as important as my mother and more important than my dad and sis, also i have a friend who lies a few streets away from me spends all day on the computer-he stutters when he talks to me,too much computer does have a negative effect on development.

 

Maybe an hour or two a day not 30 minutes a day rofl.

 

My parents let me on no more than a half-hour a day (on school nights) and 2 hours (non-school days.)

 

Yeah, parents are definitely scared of technology. My dad not so much, he's pretty up to date with all this stuff.

When I told my mom about Paypal, she thought it was a hoax, and Paypal just wanted my bank account info. So they could steal money from.

 

It all depends on your life.

If you live in the middle of nowhere (or just an area isolated or far away from your peers), it can be assumed that you're more likely to stay on the computer as there's not a lot of social interaction that can take place.

 

Yes, America that is, but it probably apply to most of the world.
I know, alot of people which sit, let's say 8 hours at the computer a day - but still, their in better shape then me.
It's not really the amount of time, but if you do something beside, sitting at the computer. I for one, go to the gym, 4-5 days a week - but, I seem to be one of those people, which need alot of effort to stay in shape.

I sit at the computer, 4-5 hours a day - playing games, talking/writting with mates, writting at the forum(s) and doing homework.
Which, is fairly normal amount of time, compared with some of my mates.

 

There's nothing long with browsing for a long time. I can socially interact fine. In fact, the internet cured my social awkwardness.