By
POPOOLA Balqis Olabisi, B.Ed., M.Ed., PhD.
Ever since the internet became accessible to everyone, with no restrictions on school-going children, academic performance has drastically reduced across the nation. Many might argue that the internet provides access to more study materials, thereby giving ample studying opportunity, but the distractions on the internet inevitably outweigh the opportunities therein. Worse still, the internet has made a small village in the world, such that students are exposed to worse situations than poor academic performance.
The role of parents in curbing high internet usage among students in schools is crucial, as students are increasingly reliant on digital devices for educational and recreational purposes. Excessive internet usage, especially for non-educational purposes, can have adverse effects on students, including academic distraction, reduced physical activity, and potential exposure to inappropriate content. Therefore, parents play a vital role in guiding and monitoring their children’s internet use to ensure it remains balanced and healthy.
According to the Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 40% of students exhibit symptoms of Internet addiction disorder (IAD). Students’ internet use poses significant risks, including cyberbullying, online predation, and exposure to inappropriate content. Statistics show 70% of preteen and teenage students encounter online bullying, 54% experience harassment, and 1 in 7 receive unwanted sexual solicitations. Excessive internet use is linked to sleep deprivation, mental health concerns like depression and anxiety, and addiction, affecting 40% of children. Online exploitation risks include identity theft, grooming, and radicalization.
Aside from the fact that it is practically impossible for school-going children to be completely banned from the internet to protect them from the vices, the internet, on the other side of the coin, has served as a medium for students to merit limitless development in terms of technology, arts, and crafts. Thereby making internet usage a necessary evil and thus bringing about the need for parents to not only supervise their children’s internet usage but also control it.
Ways Through Which Parents Can Regulate Internet Usage
Parents play an indispensable role in guiding their children’s online activities, helping to balance the benefits of internet access with protective measures against potential harms. Here’s a closer look at key areas where parents can make a difference in promoting safe and healthy internet use:
1. Parental Guidance And Monitoring
If the internet usage of students is not hidden from their parents, the majority of the vices thereon will be prevented. Parents should educate their children on proper Internet usage, online safety, and etiquette. This includes setting limits on screen time and internet usage, designating specific hours for online activities, and monitoring online activities at home. Keeping devices in common areas helps parents stay informed about their child’s online behaviour. Open communication is vital; parents should discuss online risks, cyberbullying, and the consequences of misuse, encouraging children to share their online experiences.
2. Collaboration With Schools Is Essential In Regulating Internet Usage
Schools nowadays organize workshops and seminars concerning the usage of the Internet among students. Parents should attend these sensitisation programmes to be more aware of how best to assist their children. Likewise, attending parent-teacher association (PTA) meetings to discuss internet usage and stay informed about school policies should be the priorities of every concerned parent. Specifically, working with teachers helps develop effective monitoring strategies. In the absence of none, parents can advocate for school workshops or seminars on internet safety and usage to ensure that students receive comprehensive guidance.
3. Setting Boundaries And Consequences
This is a very vital approach to regulating internet usage. Parents and schools should establish clear rules for internet usage at home and school, outlining consequences for misuse. Losing privileges or rewards for responsible behavior encourages children to use the internet wisely. Installing parental control software, such as K9 or Net Nanny, and enabling device tracking and monitoring helps enforce these boundaries.
4. Utilizing Technology And Tools
To truly curb high usage of the internet among students, parents have to be on top of their games with certain internet filtering tools, parental control software, and device tracking apps that enable parents to monitor and limit online activities. Safe search engines and browsers, like KidRex and Kiddle, also exist to provide student-friendly alternatives. Likewise, regularly updating devices and software ensures the latest security patches. By leveraging these tools, parents can safely create a secure online environment.
5. Encouraging digital literacy and responsibility
Parents should lead by example while teaching children about online citizenship, etiquette, and responsibility empowers them to navigate the internet wisely. Parents can promote discernment by encouraging critical thinking and evaluating online sources. They can also foster creativity and innovation through responsible internet usage to incite positive online engagement. And most importantly, discussing online reputation, privacy, and security best practices helps children understand the importance of responsible internet behavior. By modeling healthy internet habits themselves, parents should demonstrate the value of responsible internet usage.
6. Safeguard Against Online Threats
The internet can expose children to various risks, including cyberbullying, online predation, identity theft, grooming, and radicalization. Parents should implement strategies to protect children from these dangers by using parental control tools and privacy settings. Additionally, open communication is essential, as it encourages children to report any uncomfortable experiences they encounter online. Educating children on recognizing suspicious behaviors and avoiding interactions with strangers can also provide a layer of protection (Livingstone et al., 2017). By instilling awareness about online threats, parents can help their children develop critical thinking skills to better navigate digital spaces safely.
7. Prevent Addiction and Mental Health Concerns
Excessive internet use, particularly involving social media and online gaming, is often linked to addiction and mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation, and decreased attention span. Parental intervention is crucial to prevent the negative effects of overuse by establishing screen-time limits and encouraging offline activities that support emotional and physical health. Research has shown that children with unregulated internet usage are more prone to addiction, with long-term effects on their focus, mood, and cognitive development (George & Odgers, 2015). By monitoring and limiting screen time, parents can promote a balanced lifestyle that prioritizes real-world interactions, physical activity, and consistent sleep routines.
8. Foster Healthy Study Habits
Parents can play an active role in fostering strong study habits by minimizing internet distractions that can disrupt academic focus. While the internet is an invaluable resource for learning, unrestricted usage can lead to frequent distractions from non-educational content. Parents can help by creating structured study environments with limited access to entertainment sites during study times. By reinforcing time-management skills and encouraging breaks from screens, parents support balanced learning and help their children develop habits that lead to better academic outcomes (Lauricella, Wartella, & Rideout, 2015).
9. Monitor Inappropriate Content Exposure
Children are susceptible to exposure to harmful or explicit material online, which can have lasting emotional and psychological effects. Parents can prevent access to inappropriate content by using filtering software, blocking certain websites, and frequently discussing the types of content that are off-limits. Monitoring tools that alert parents to potential exposure can provide additional safeguards. This proactive approach helps protect children’s well-being and reduces the chances of encountering distressing material that may affect their development (Kaur & Pathak, 2015).
10. Promote Digital Literacy and Responsibility
To prepare children for responsible internet use, parents should teach digital literacy and digital citizenship skills. This includes understanding online etiquette, managing one’s digital footprint, and being respectful in online interactions. When children learn to distinguish credible sources from misinformation and understand the implications of their online actions, they become more responsible internet users. Parents can support this by discussing digital responsibility openly, demonstrating ethical internet behavior, and reinforcing the importance of privacy and security online. Teaching these skills equips children to make informed decisions and interact safely in the digital world (Chaudron et al., 2015).
In sum, by implementing these measures, parents can effectively regulate internet usage, promote a productive digital culture as opposed to distractive, and ensure a safe online environment for their children.
Parents play an essential role in curbing high internet usage among students by establishing boundaries, monitoring online activity, educating on digital literacy, and modeling healthy habits. Parental involvement and guidance can help students strike a balance between using the internet for school-related activities and avoiding distractions, ultimately contributing to healthier internet habits and better academic outcomes.
In conclusion, parents must take an active role in regulating their children’s internet usage to maximize their academic performances as well as to prevent addiction, cyberbullying, and other online risks and promote responsible digital behaviour.
Resources
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). “Family media use plan.”
- Chaudron, S., Di Gioia, R., Gemo, M., & Holloway, D. (2015). “Young Children (0-8) and Digital Technology: A Qualitative Exploratory Study Across Seven Countries.”
- George, M. J., & Odgers, C. L. (2015). “Seven fears and the science of how mobile technologies may be influencing adolescents in the digital age.”
- Kaur, R., & Pathak, A. (2015). “Impact of parental monitoring on internet use.”
- Lauricella, A. R., Wartella, E., & Rideout, V. J. (2015). “Young children’s screen time: The complex role of parent and child factors.”
- Livingstone, S., Davidson, J., Bryce, J., & Martellozzo, E. (2017). “Children’s online activities, risks and safety: A literature review by the UKCCIS evidence group.”
- Radesky, J. S., Schumacher, J., & Zuckerman, B. (2015). “Mobile and interactive media use by young children: The good, the bad, and the unknown.”
Dr. POPOOLA Balqis Olabisi is an educational psychology columnist who writes articles, blogs, or columns exploring how psychological principles can be applied to improve teaching, learning, and student development. She is based in Ilorin, Nigeria. +2348020947142/balqispopoola87@gmail.com