The widespread accessibility and use of the computer and the internet has been one of the biggest developments in human history. It has opened up a world of information and commerce to a level never seen before. But along with the numerous benefits, the internet has also had some negative aspects which merit some attention.
Especially worrying are the ever
increasing hours that adolescents spend in front of the computer screen
browsing the net. One study has now found a strong link between the use of
Internet and risky behaviors in adolescents like alcohol consumption, drug use
and engaging in unprotected sex.
The problem is that these young kids
are exposed to behavior which is inappropriate for their age. Unlike
television, there are no strict censorship protocols in place for the Internet
and consequently they can access Adult sites with ease and are also exposed to
advertisements not meant for them (alcohol, cigarettes etc).
Today’s adolescents are much more
tech savvy than their parents and can easily bypass any filters or blocking
programs that their parents install on their computers. As this research shows;
it has now become even more important for parents to monitor what their children
are accessing online.
To do this they need not only to get
savvier with latest website blocking software but more importantly they need to
communicate with their child and explain them the pitfalls of indulging in
risky behaviors especially about drugs and alcohol abuse and unprotected sex.
The parents need to understand that
their child will be under tremendous peer pressure and that they need to help
their child in coping with it.
Tagged
as: adolescents, health tips, lifestyle, news, relationships, sexual health
No comments:
Post a Comment