Raising children in a media saturated world exploits many generational differences. The lives of
children today are drastically different than the lives of parents in their youth. This generational
gap can make parenting difficult, mostly because parents don't understand Gen Z. The days of
kickball in the park or freeze tag in the neighborhood seem to be dwindling, and instead,
children flock to online chat rooms, social media apps, or Internet connected video games. Just
how much media does the youth consume in this day and age? According to a survey
conducted by Kaiser Family Foundation, 8-18 year olds consume an average of 7 hours and 38
minutes of entertainment media every day.
As technology rapidly develops so do the children we raise, and the question arises, how can
parents allow our children to grow from Internet use while keeping them safe simultaneously?
Our kids want autonomy and privacy, and as parents we understand that. When it comes to
Internet use we straddle the line of freedom and control. The following tips should help parents
balance their child’s Internet use, help them develop in a positive manner, and keep them safer
online.
