In a world where screens seem to have the upper hand, the counter -movement is also growing. More and more parents consciously choose their children without growing smartphone and social media. Social media strategist Sander Oord from Tilburg and psychologist Kim Kroezen from Vught want to protect their children against the negative effects of excessive screen use.
As an entrepreneur, Oord specializes in social media, but at home he tackles it differently. His children Stan (10) and Lisa (8) do not yet have a smartphone. “A telephone is easier to make appointments, but convenience is not a good reason to give them one,” he says. Only when they go to high school do they get their own device.
He notices that this sometimes encounters resistance from other parents, for example if their children cannot meet with his because Stan does not have a phone. He calls himself a ‘hypocritical parent’, because he himself is always available for his work, but does not want to expose his children to constant access.
Addiction
At primary school he is active in the participation council and is committed to a stricter policy on social media. “We know that bullies are being bullied on Snapchat in groups 7 and 8, for example for a child’s clothing. We don’t want that.” He also believes that contact with parents should be better regulated via apps. “You know that your child is in school, then you will not send an app at 9 o’clock in the morning to wish a nice school day. Such apps can also be before half past eight.”
His children are allowed for a maximum of one hour a day screen time. “A child is not resilient enough against an environment that is built on addiction. As parents, government and society we are jointly responsible. Life is difficult enough. Why do we add a second online world to that?” He wonders aloud.
Robotization
Psychologist Kim Kroezen saw during a study that more and more young people have difficulty with social contact. “A large number of children teach that less and less, because social interaction is increasingly taking place digitally.” She points to the robotization of society: “People app, call, sitting in their ears, gazing on a screen. There is no moment of real contact anymore.” Although people do have contacts via their phone, it is not real contact, according to Kroezen. “Because that’s face-to-face. “
According to her, many children feel lonely and miss connection. “Because the phone is in between.” Although she does not want to ban social media, she argues for awareness among parents, grandfathers and grandmothers. “Children mirror your behavior. If you want children to deal with technology differently, you have to set a good example.” She has not been using Facebook for 15 years. She only has LinkedIn. Her 7-year-old daughter is having fun without a phone. “She can enjoy herself extremely well, I believe it really helped.”
‘Continuous incentives unhealthy’
Kroezen, who also supports parents with issues like this, warns of laziness. “We are in one rat race. Giving a child a smartphone is easy, because it does enjoy itself. But it is unhealthy for the children’s brain to get continuous stimuli. ”
She emphasizes the importance of openness between parents and schools, so that children do not fall outside the boat. “I am not against telephones, but against addictive technologies. There is a difference between entertainment, functional and educational use. It is about creating consciousness.”
In one fire letter Doctors warned on Monday about the consequences of excessive screen use, such as sleeping problems, increasing loneliness, social clumsiness and physical complaints. They want the age limit for social media to 14 years old. The House of Representatives agreed in March with a proposal for a border of 15 years. A similar ban on social media for children up to the age of 16 has already been introduced in Australia.
Tips for smartphone conscious parents of Kroezen:
- Use technology functional, not as entertainment
- Turn off push notifications and do not put the phone in sight
- Turn off the sound
- Throw off social media, see if you are still missing it
- Be aware of what you do
- Start the conversation at school: what do other parents do?
- Be honest about your own screen behavior – and adjust where necessary