The advance of internet and cellphone technology has brought in its wake major tests especially for Muslim parents worried about their kids. Here’s Part Two in our Tips for Parents:
What is Video Networking?
Technology that allows anyone to upload and share videos they produce or find. Also called video-sharing sites. A big name is You Tube (owned by Google). Equipment as simple as a cellphone camera allows you to post videos online. Downloading is free. Members number in the millions and videos in the hundreds of millions.
How graphic?
Graphic combat, be-headings, pornography, pedophilia are all posted.
The risks?
§ TV/video is proven to impact greatly on especially kids. New SA laws ban junk-food ads aimed at kids.
§ Porn and graphic violence impact hugely upon viewers. Studies show that porn-watching on the internet is a massive addiction causing the addict mental and physical problems. Murder sprees have their roots on what the perpetrator watched.
§ Video-bullying: acts taped and now available for the world to see. Internet predators have coerced young victims to perform sex acts on camera and send it to them. They use threats of something bad happening to them or their loved ones if they didn't play along. Predators manage to isolate kids from their families, who are unaware of what’s going on.
Help yourself.
§ Parents are the ones ultimately responsible for keeping their kids safe online.
§ Work with kids, teach them what is appropriate and inappropriate activity online. Don’t speak to them about it just once, but regularly.
§ Set down rules, and ENFORCE them.
§ Take computers out of kids' rooms and put them into public areas such as the family room.
INTERNET SAFETY: VIDEO VIEWING
