The Netflix show ‘Adolescence’ recently sparked conversations about the impact of technology and social media on children’s wellbeing and the growing challenges parents face in monitoring their children’s digital lives. Today, it’s common to see young children owning a smartphone, spending hours online, either on social media, playing online games, or chatting with friends. In fact, research shows that adolescents engage with digital technology far more than any other generation.
Undeniably, technological advancements offer various opportunities, such as access to educational resources, entertainment, and enhanced communication. However, it also brings challenges. Adolescents can become deeply immersed in the digital world, leading to isolation, reduced face-to-face communication, poor social and interpersonal skills, and family conflicts. More concerning are online dangers such as cyberbullying, identity theft, online scams and more. These dangers often fuel parents’ anxiety as they struggle to balance freedom and safety in their child’s digital life.