I have to agree with your statements.
I am a huge advocate against teens on social media. There should be no reason a 14 year olds self worth revolves around the comments being posted on the internet.
The teen brain and emotions are fragile and should be handled with care and respect. Giving these already vulnerable minds access to online bullying is the fault of the parent. Here's the best thing about online bullying, it stops when you walk away. There is no need to read or participate in an activity that makes you devalue yourself.
I completely agree. Parents need to read the recent studies that show the pitfalls that social media holds for their kids and take responsibility. There's been many stories of late about the increasing suicide rates with kids much attributed to online activities. What good does it do to buckle your kid in a car seat and make sure they wear a helmet when riding their bikes if you're handing them a tool that is much more likely to have adverse effects on their mental health. I think too mant parents just see it as a babysitter, when they should be paying close attention to what's really going on.
The developing brain is so fragile. It's hard as an adult to understand how teens could be driven to suicide by online comments. In this new and ever changing world we need to give young kids and teens the childhood they deserve. Your online social media is a forever thing. Your pictures are no longer your property and could have lasting consequencess.
To me the best thing a parent can do is lead my example. Posting your childrens childhood on Facebook and instagram only conditions them to think it's "normal". My families memories aren't for public use and their childhood is not for sale.
An off hand example is Voat. I wasn't being "bullied" but the content was really dragging me down. The best solution is to walk away and not engage in online activities that negatively effect your mental health. Phuks is currently my only form of social media.
I agree with your conclusions, but I prefer other methods of dealing with it.
I don't think I can child-proof the world, or shelter children from it. I believe they should be taught how to stand up to it on their own.
I understand the parents desire to protect their children and keep them away from negative things, but they will suffer later in life for it.
I know that when I was a child I could, and did get past any censorship I came up against. I was able to get porn as a child before the internet. So I never tried to limit the internet, I instead taught her about what was out there, and how to deal with it, myself first. Then let her explore as she wished.
I was the type of child that made a point of doing everything that I was ever told not to. So when I became the rule-maker, I tried to avoid creating taboos.
Your mileage may vary, though.
I was the same way. My kids were exposed to and learned how to use the internet long before many even knew there was such a thing. And like you, I was the kid who did everything my parents told me I couldn't ... so when it came to my kids, I gave them a lot more freedom to explore. It worked great and both grew up to be outstanding adults (possibly through no fault of my own - LOL), so I agree, we need to raise our kids to grow up ... take responsibility, and discover the world around them. I think many parents today though see the internet and social media just as a place they can send their kids to get them out of their hair, without ever paying attention to what it is they're actually up to.
This is sad, but fishy.
The parents are pushing the blame hard toward 'bullys'. But no details of any kind.
And I do not believe that a 14 year old that has a healthy home life would kill themselves over online bullying.
I know I don't have enough information to draw any conclusions, but I am guessing that it was the parents that failed the child.
Everyone get's abuse on the internet. There is more to it when people start offing themselves over it.