BradfordToday and InnisfilToday welcome letters to the editor at [email protected] or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). We received the following regarding the use of technology and social media by young children.
In the current times, we are benefiting from the fast progress made through latest technology and communication systems, which provides many benefits at a global level, like instant communication, expression of opinion and knowledge sharing through social media. However, a bitter reality is also evident that the irresponsible use of social media led to moral weaknesses at a personal and societal level.
We should not ignore the benefits of social media as well where we can get tons of knowledge in seconds which was not possible before. With better technology, we can make payments for important matters in a flash of light. We can watch very useful programs on television, and children benefit from the educational programs being played as well.
However, with extensive use of technology, we tend to forget the amount of time we waste on our mobile phone and televisions. It has become a trend for parents to buy phones for children under 12 years of age. The children then play games on these devices, watch YouTube videos and accept whatever recommendations are being sent to them. It is often seen that even when the whole family is sitting together or having dinner together, the little ones are busy with these devices, watching videos. They make Instagram accounts from a very young age and start posting their pictures without the supervision of their parents. This has consequences in some situations.
Social media has made it very easy for under-aged children to access any sort of places or products that are even dangerous for them and are hazardous for their health. We should try to limit their use of social media and give them permission to use devices while we are around them to monitor what they are doing.
The worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community warned about the negative influence of the wrong use of the latest technology including mobile phones on the character of children.
At an international gathering in March 2012, he said: “There is a widespread problem of children demanding from their parents to buy them mobile phones. Some are just 10 years of age and say that they should have a mobile phone. Are you doing some sort of business? Or are you doing some kind of work in which information is required to be accessed every minute? When asked, they reply ‘we need to call our parents.’ If your parents are not worried, there is also no need for you to worry, because phones can also lead to bad habits. Hence, phones are also a very harmful thing due to which children lose all good sense and get involved in wrongdoings, so avoid this. As for TV programs, as I said you may watch cartoons or informative programs. However, you must avoid all vulgar and indecent programs."
Hira Aftab
Outreach and Community Relations
Lajna Imaillah Canada, Bradford West Chapter
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