Credits: Social Media
Building children’s self-esteem protects them from the internet, says motivational speaker�
Gone are the days when parents’ main worry was their children’s safety in the outside world. Nowadays, danger is lurking inside smartphones and computers.
Social media usage is rampant now, more than ever. It isn’t a platform to only connect anymore. While many are making a living out of it, they and others turn to it for validation and attention. Whatever the reason, watching TikTok for as little as 10 minutes daily affects a little girl’s self-image. Naturally, it’s on the parents to protect them.
How are you protecting your child from the internet?
This question is an important one because the Internet is everywhere – How do you protect your child from it?
Entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and author, Gary Vee, was approached by a concerned mother, who asked him: “How can I keep my 9-year-old daughter away from the dangers of the Internet?”
As the majority of the population has grown dependent on the Internet and social media, it isn’t always easy to limit your child’s access to them. So, you must ensure they don’t spend any time on it.
“You actually don’t let her spend time on it. Which, as you know, is very hard because everybody in her world will be on it,” the motivational speaker says.
While children are more vulnerable to falling victim to cyberbullying and other unethical practices, excessive use of social media, or Doomscrolling can trigger an ‘existential crisis’ in adults.
That’s why a Buddhist monk advises enjoying life outside of social media, which he says leads to “true happiness.”
Ensure they are confident
As you can’t always protect your child, as much as you want to, teach them to be confident and build their self-esteem.
“The number one thing to protect a child is to build their self-esteem. When a child is not insecure, they don’t succumb to danger,” he says.
A great majority of children worldwide fall victim to cyberbullying every year. It is the use of technology to threaten, embarrass, harm, or target another person.
Online bullying is so common and detrimental to mental health that children are refusing to be seen in family pictures for fear of being picked on for their looks. Not only can you avoid the tragic consequences by teaching your children to love themselves, but staying away from social media keeps them from becoming the target.
Gary Vee is the CEO of Vaynermedia and Veerfriends who has been named the New York Times Bestselling author 6 times. He’s a father of two, who uses his social media platforms to discuss integral aspects of life and well-being.
