Protecting the Play-based Childhood in San Geronimo
The Issue
Over a trillion US dollars and some of the brightest minds alive are dedicated to capturing our attention through digital media. This relentless pursuit of our focus is not without consequences—Attention equals Life.
Children, being the most vulnerable, are also the primary targets. They have the most to lose in this digital attention economy, as the addictive nature of these platforms can significantly affect their development.
Our Responsibility
It falls on us to protect children from digital addiction. This can be achieved by first implementing impenetrable yet flexible boundaries and second providing technical and emotional education that equips them with the tools to navigate the digital world healthily.
A Community Approach
Addressing our responsibility at home is not enough. Effective boundaries must be enforced at a community level. Kids will inevitably find access to media through the friend with the weakest protections. Therefore, it’s essential that we, as a community, come together to create a safer, more conscious digital environment for our children.
Here are some actions you can take to protect your community’s children from the impacts of digital media
Learn about the impacts of digital media on kids
Avoid giving your child a smartphone as long as possible
Implement parental controls on all devices your child has access to
Create family agreements around use of digital media at home
Participate in the creation and/or implementation of community agreements around kid’s use of digital media