What is the right age for a child to use the internet and social media?
I see many countries promoting social media to raise the age for using it (e.g., Australia, the UK, etc.).
The sad thing is that some parents are already giving their toddlers a tablet to "entertain" them. This hurts the child's brain development. Not to mention when they get on social media and are exposed to various trends.
I got on the internet when I was 10, and I have to say that for the first 7 years, I didn't use it to my advantage (except for editing videos and photos). On the other hand, the faster we learn to use technology, the faster we get the benefits.
What rules would you set for teenagers/kids when it comes to using technology?
(As for me, I would probably want my child to acquire as many offline hobbies and skills as possible at the earliest age, because sitting alone in front of a computer and getting addicted will make that person unable to do anything in the physical world. At least lettargic to try offline things.)
Replies
Klariqo AI Voice Assistants
Yeah I see this a lot. My niece won't eat properly seated in a single place, unless you play her favorite tv show on the phone or TV or whatever. She is only like 3 years old.
Its like every kid I see these days is glued to their phone, watching some weird cartoon show haha.
And that I think has an indirect negative effect in a way. I recently saw a post on X, where a 15-year-old kid was boasting about how he learnt programming by 11, ditched gaming because it was a "waste of time" and got his internship by 13. Like what's the rush? lol
I was writing my name on every desk in my school when I was 11, and that was my achievement of the day. And if given the opportunity, I will do it again, the same way.
With early social media exposure, kids start comparing themselves early, which pushes them to chase the "hustle culture" way too early which is so toxic I feel.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@ansh_deb oo ou, this is not good, I could see some young people doing this, and they had a problem later to digest / eat food properly without stimuli (e.g. screen) – they had a problem swallowing the dish. When using technology, kids should be shown what they can achieve if they use it in the right direction.
Klariqo AI Voice Assistants
@busmark_w_nika Yeah for sure, and then there's my other nephew who is like a pain in the butt. I have never seen him stuck on a phone, he just runs around like a maniac on drugs all the time lol. He is also very young, but there's a clear difference I see, between kids who spend too much time on screen + outdoors. General confidence, social engagement, heck even body posture.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@ansh_deb Wow, he sounds hyperactive :D but I think it is better to have fun outside than scrolling :)
Klariqo AI Voice Assistants
@busmark_w_nika Totally! That's how it should be atleast in childhood. Not glued to a screen
This is a difficult question! I would align myself with German law and suggest: Until the age of 12, the child may only use the internet and social media with a caregiver. After that, they can make their own decisions, but only for a limited time, for 1 to 2 hours a day. Of course, it's also important to talk a lot with the children and adolescents about what they see there.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@michael_kulla Maybe I would restrict it to 15. After that, I would have to admit that the teen needs some skills to gain (e.g. graphic design, video editing, programming etc).
Interesting topic, Nika!
You hold a very similar position to ours on this. As still relatively young parents (our little one turned one just two weeks ago), there’s still some time before we reach the stage you’re talking about, but I can say this:
Many parents give their child a phone simply because they’re lazy. Phones are a powerful drug for kids! Тhey just can’t resist them. And it’s the easiest way for parents to avoid engaging with their child and to have some peace and quiet.
For now, we’re keeping him away from technology. He sees us using our phones and laptops, but we don’t let him stare at the screens. The way to keep a child offline is actually quite simple, yet it requires effort: you have to constantly buy age-appropriate toys and spend time with the child.
Кids love having someone to play with. He loves being with his mom, with me, with his grandmothers, his aunt, and other kids. But there always has to be someone to entertain him. If not, he needs toys. And those toys change all the time: the things he played with at six months old are no longer interesting at all. But his new toys are his favorites.
He also has a big library (books for 6, 9, 12 months). It’s amazing how many books there are for kids at that age! Аnd even more amazing that he actually finds them interesting. But for him to have the right toys and books, it means my wife reads, researches, and picks the suitable ones. And we know that in 1–2 months, we’ll need new ones, because he’ll have outgrown the current age stage. But this way, he stays far away from technology.
That’s why we plan to keep developing his other sides as he grows. Yes, at some point he will encounter technology but that day will come later. It’s still too early now. Besides, I believe that with time, there will be more and more tools and safeguards for children. So as the years go by, we’ll also mature in our understanding of technology.
In fact, our generation and the one just after us are the most affected by it. People over 40–50 were already fully aware adults when they first encountered these technologies. Those aged 15–35 now are the first to consciously realize that technology can have a negative impact and want to protect their children from it.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@byalexai Ooooh, happy B-day, he is really a big boss! :)
When it comes to technology and your usage, do you also somehow restrict the time so he will not see you use it?
Because once I read something that it also affects the perception of kids (probably want to copy the behaviour of their parents). Do you have any plan for that too?
As a father of 2, I believe social offline interaction is the most important for communication skills and self esteem. So, please try to have it as late as possible for social media and other stuff.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@andrei_juc Do you use social media when you are with your kids?
Honestly, I think once kids start building social circles, social media becomes inevitable.
Even if parents don’t allow it, they’ll learn it from friends anyway.
So instead of banning it completely, teaching healthy use, boundaries, and awareness might be more realistic and helpful long term.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@chris_green0742 Where are those times when we had to remember telephone numbers by heart? 🫠