Social media has been in expansion for years, and children are becoming users at an increasingly younger age. The rise of digital platforms has led to great parental concern about the content children are exposed to and the amount of time they spend online. 🧒🏻

It is well known that many dangers lurk in the digital world, but at the same time, the digital realm can offer children valuable information and knowledge.

There are several questions to consider.

• When is enough, enough?
• What is the best time to use the internet?
• What kind of parental control should be in place?
• Does the digital world create or mirror social inequalities?

Research conducted by Children of Europe on the Internet has shown that students in Serbia spend an average of more than three hours a day online, while two-thirds of them spend between four and seven hours online on weekends. Is that too much? ⏱️

According to research by UNICEF, the most vulnerable children are more likely to be exposed to these risks. Experts state that smartphones encourage a "bedroom culture with internet access," providing children with a more personal and private space.

The authors of the study identify several risks that children face on the internet:

• Content risks: “These may include exposure to sexual, pornographic, and violent images, certain forms of advertising, racist and discriminatory materials, hate speech, and websites promoting unhealthy or dangerous behaviors such as self-harm, suicide, and extreme dieting.”
• Contact risks: “These occur when a child engages in risky communication, such as interacting with an adult seeking an inappropriate relationship or with individuals attempting to radicalize them and persuade them to engage in unhealthy and dangerous behaviors.”
• Behavioral risks: “These arise when a child behaves in a way that contributes to the creation of risky content or relationships, including material that children themselves generate.”

Every child using the internet is, to some extent, exposed to online dangers. However, by actively participating in their digital lives, limiting their time on social media, and implementing proper parental controls, the risks of unwanted incidents can be significantly reduced.

Let’s protect our most precious ones and make an effort to educate them on time.