This Is Your Kid On Drugs

 As we have been dealing with this pandemic, we have seen many changes. We have seen lives lost, people losing their jobs, a rise in entrepreneurship and remote learning for kids. 

I want to direct this topic to how our kids are being taught and raised because I believed we are losing our grip on the principles and fundamentals we want to instil into our children. Since introducing computer tablets to kids, we have seen a shift in our parenting skills. We use tablets to keep kids in an idle state when running errands or in environments, kids require attention.  Instead of occasionally giving these devices to our kids as a luxury, we rely on these devices to babysit our children. 

We have got to the point where these device's act as childminders for our kids by keeping them entertained. But how far can that go?

We know that all media is a tool to do numerous things, but it's becoming somewhat hindering their natural progression in life when it comes to our kids. 

Kids are watching regular people on social platforms take part in various activities. The same activities they have access to, but would rather watch that person put in the work to achieve whatever target is set and be satisfied in that person's achievements rather than their own. 

For example, A child can watch someone play and complete a game on a games console and not feel the need to complete the game for themselves because they have already seen it be completed by someone else. Kids are becoming satisfied with getting the reward without putting in the work themself. 

Instant gratification is affecting the way our children are viewing life. 

It's also giving a false narrative of how processes work. Kids are starting to believe things are easily achievable because they watch a 10min video with someone cutting and editing how they became famous. They do not see the steps, how long it takes, or even the setbacks that had to be overcome to get to the goals they're watching. All this does is give kids unrealistic expectations and a view of society that doesn't exist. It, in a sense, is creating an already privilege mindset in kids consumed by social media. 

What kids are also getting from being reliant on social media and mobile devices is exposed to content that should be coming from parents instead of the internet. The fact is a lot of kids have Snapchats, Instagrams, Tik Tok and Youtube accounts. While Youtube has a Youtube kid app, the other social media platforms don't have an alternative and therefore has our kids exposed to the same information that we as adults are exposed to. Information such as social injustice, sex, drugs and criminal acts. Kids are becoming exposed to too much information too early and causing all types of confusion for them. It's causing them to be taken advantage of because they are not mature enough to understand the information given to them completely.

 I remember being told that marijuana was a gateway drug. I believe that social media is a gateway drug for these kids. 

These endorphins that we as adults enjoy but be an Ecstasy high for these kids, and if the addiction is so strong for us, then what do you think it's doing to these kids. Tik Tok and Instagram videos last up to a minute. These kids attention span is lasting about the same amount of time.  Suppose we don't get our kids off these gadgets and back outside and doing physical activities. In that case, I fear we will have a generation of Anxiety-driven, endorphin-seeking, no ambition, self-centred hermits with the attention span of a goldfish. It starts with us, the parents. I know that we are already being stretched thin, but it's our duty to make sure our children flourish in a world driven by greed and ego. It is our duty to make sure to give them the tools they need to survive and prosper in life. It is easier to provide them with a device to keep them occupied, but when has anything easy ever been worthwhile or meaningful. Hard work builds character, and kids can be hard work, but it's up to us to show the right attitude and develop ways to stimulate our kid's minds in the right way instead of doping them up with gadgets. Social media is a drug that we as adults are just figuring out. Let's get our kids off them before they overdose.