Digital literacy and Parental obligations

The digital world has opened new vistas of knowledge, communication, entertainment
and opportunities. It has got its pros and cons. In order to obtain the maximum gains with the
minimum risks form the virtual world, one must be educated with the effective use of it. The
effective use of digital devices such as, mobile phones, tablets, laptops and electronic gadgets,
for the purpose of communication, knowledge, learning, entertainment and collaboration is
basically digital literacy.
Today, almost every teenager has accessibility to any electronic gadgets. The damage it
can cause usually, is concealed and in long run. Our parents grew up in an era not known to
these technological advancements. Thus, most of the parents are alien to the new social media
applications or in operating them. This is the reason that on one hand the parents are very
conscious of their kids’ friends circle, while on the other hand, they pay no heed that with
whom their children are interacting and navigating the virtual world. Consequently, the severity
of the damage it can cause to teenagers and youth, is often neglected or unaddressed.
Therefore, it is immensely pertinent to educate them with the effective use of it. The
accessibility of the electronic devices without educating the youth about its repercussions, is
causing multifaceted problems. These issues ought to be addressed in order to mitigate the
damage. Here are some suggestions that must be employed to kids and young siblings.
Today’s parents have more obligations and responsibilities. They must understand that
their children require more time, love and attention as compared to the way they were
nourished. The accessibility to electronic gadgets and social media have spoiled the minds of
youth because of the love contents it is filled with. If the children don’t receive ample attention
and love from their parents, they will inevitably search for a substitute. In a pursuit of a better
substitution, they are more prone to falling in wrong hands.
In addition to, in most cases this substitution leads a person to several mistakes. They
may fall into flattery of scoundrel or pedophile disguised as love. The quest for loveable person
engages one in immature love, which ultimately leads a person to become a victim to
voyeuristic or lustful desires of that respective person. Thus, one becomes more exposed to
treachery in the name of love as there remains no privacy between the two. These children
with immature love are mostly ditched, causing anxiety, depression, guilt and cyberbullying.
The situation for the girls is even worse due to tribal and patriarchal norms, which may cause a
permanent harm to their reputation and career. Parents must be close to their children that
they can easily share everything with them to avoid threats of blackmailing. They must
understand to err is human and people learn from mistakes. They must be given room to share
their mistakes or otherwise these innocent children may take refuge in narcotics or may even
take their lives.
Moreover, obsessions with the social media applications like Instagram, Facebook,
Snapchat, TikTok and many others are becoming the hindrance in the way of studies of
children. They have totally become addicted to these applications. They are unable to give
proper time to their studies. It has deviated them from their goals and ambitions. Besides this it
has physical repercussions and detrimental to our social life. The sleep hours are also disturbed
due to excessive use of electronic devices.
In a nutshell, digital literacy is need of the hour. The solution to the above problems lie
in the effective use of internet and electronic devices. There is no doubt that it can be very
helpful, if it is used in a positive way. These devices are very helpful in the various aspects of
life. Therefore, parents must provide their children these devices. However, there must be
close observation and limited use of it.