Ritesh Chugh’s Post

The real challenge will be for the social media firms to implement this directive...because 1. Currently their is no verification of person concept in social media.. (apart from X) 2. How will the companies verify age? 3. How will 15 and 16 years old's be linked to parent accounts (added burden of verifying who is parent and which parent can authorise the account 4. What happens when one parent complains to social media firm that the other parent authorised the account but they don't want their child to have the account While the legislation is important and will eventually be rolled out around entire country... And will protect the young ones... It will also create the issue of digital skills....

Happy new month Digital Citizens... Each June, the greater online safety community commemorates Internet Safety Month. As my team at Digital Wellness Africa and I make our various contributions within our communities, I dedicated myself to not only investing in continued personal development but also to supporting fellow digital rights and online safety advocates and authors. I will be sharing various resources that I found to be very helpful in supporting Digital Citizens. The first one, which came in the mail a few days ago, is Online Harms and Cybertrauma: Legal and Harmful Issues with Children and Young People by Catherine Knibbs . "This vital, sensitive guide explains the serious issues children face online and how they are impacted by them on a developmental, neurological, social, mental health and wellbeing level." I am really looking forward to learning how we can ensure Internet Safety for future generations of leaders, educators, parents and policy makers by considering online harms and cybertrauma they are facing right now! #internetsafety #whatsinitforus #onlinesafetyawareness #digitalwellbeing #digitalcitizens #DigitalAgeConversations

In my latest article for BBC Science Focus, I delve into why a social media ban for kids might not be the solution we think it is and share some of our Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford research supported by the The Huo Family Foundation. Quick takeaways: 🚫 Social media's impact on youth well-being is surprisingly minimal. 😊 Most aspects of a child's life satisfaction are unaffected by their online activity per se. 🛠 Instead of banning, we should focus on equipping our youth with the skills to navigate digital spaces responsibly. 👨👩👧👦 As parents and educators, it's crucial to guide rather than restrict. 📊 Historical attempts at regulation have shown that blanket bans are ineffective. #DigitalWellbeing #AdolscentMentalHealthInTheDigitalAge #EvidenceBasedPolicy For a deeper understanding, check out the full piece https://lnkd.in/ea2qceYM).

🚨 Australia's Plan to Ban Children From Social Media – A Bold Move for Mental Health?? 🚨 Australia is taking a significant step toward safeguarding children's mental health by proposing legislation to ban social media access for minors, with potential age limits between 14 and 16. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the need to shift focus from screens to real-world activities, such as sports and face-to-face interactions. Key concerns driving the move: • Cyberbullying and its impact on youth mental health. • Exposure to harmful content. • The rise in social harm linked to constant device use. However, this initiative raises questions: • Enforcement challenges: VPNs and other tools could allow tech savy kids to bypass restrictions. • Potential risks: Banning social media could push children to unregulated spaces or make them hide their online activity, potentially increasing their exposure to harm. As governments worldwide grapple with social media regulation for minors, Australia’s bold stance highlights the complexity of balancing safety with digital rights. Is banning the solution? Or should we focus more on education and parental involvement? How can we balance online safety and healthy digital participation for teens? Let's discuss in the comments!👇 #MentalHealth #SocialMediaBan #DigitalSafety #Australia #TechRegulation #YouthSafety #CyberSafety #SocialImpact #Tech

🚀 Unlocking the Power of Digital Well-being 🌐 Did you know that 95% of kids today are exposed to electronic devices, with a significant portion falling prey to the allure of violent content, impacting their sleep patterns? 📱💤 📊 Statistics don't lie: 85% of parents are concerned about their children's addiction to screens. On average, kids spend over 7 hours per day on electronic devices. Studies reveal a direct correlation between exposure to violent movies and disturbed sleep patterns in children. 💡 Minimizing the Threats: We possess well-established evidence on how to tackle these challenges and create a safer digital environment for our younger generation. Education, open communication, and setting healthy screen time limits are proven strategies. 🌈 Creating a Digital Sanctuary: Let's work together to build a digital world where our children can thrive without falling victim to the hazards of online content. Empowering them to use social media responsibly is not just a choice; it's a necessity. ⚠️ Digital Hazard Crime: Abuse of social media isn't just a matter of personal choice; it's a crime against the well-being of our youth. Let's raise awareness about the consequences and promote digital literacy to prevent the perpetuation of these crimes. 🤝 Join the Movement: Together, we can foster a safer online space for the next generation. Share your thoughts, experiences, and tips on promoting digital well-being. Use #DigitalWellBeingMovement to join the conversation and make a positive impact today. 🌐 Let's build a digital future that's safe, empowering, and full of opportunities for our children! 🚀 #OnlineSafety #DigitalWellBeing #ParentingInDigitalAge

How parents can keep children safe online Many social media platforms have age restrictions, typically requiring users to be at least 13 years old to create an account. However, the decision to allow a child to use social media should consider their maturity, ability to handle online interactions, and awareness of online risks. Parents should also closely monitor and guide their child's social media usage, ensuring a safe and age-appropriate experience. Tips for parents to keep children safe online: 1. Content Management: Teach children to be mindful of the content they consume online. Encourage them to use age-appropriate websites and apps, and explain the importance of avoiding inappropriate or harmful material. 2. Contact Management: Guide children to be cautious about who they interact with online. Emphasise the importance of only connecting with known friends and family members, and to avoid sharing personal information with strangers. 3. Conduct Guidelines: Establish clear rules about online behaviour. Encourage children to be respectful, kind, and considerate when communicating online, and educate them about the consequences of cyberbullying or online grooming or other unsafe conduct. 4. Privacy Settings Awareness: Help children understand and utilise privacy settings on social media platforms and other online services. Show them how to control who can see their information and posts. 5. Regular Check-Ins: Schedule regular discussions about their online activities. This provides an opportunity for them to share their experiences, ask questions, and for you to monitor their content, contacts, and conduct online. 6. Digital Literacy Education: Empower children with digital literacy skills. Teach them to critically evaluate online information, identify potential risks, and make informed decisions about their online presence. Together for a better internet! Safer Internet Day - 6 February 2024 ChildSafeNet (Photo: Generated by AI) #parenting #childonlinesafety #SID24 #childsafenet

🚨 Should Parents Be Worried About Social Media? Insights from 5 Experts 🚨 With the Albanese government considering a social media ban for children aged 13-16, many parents are left wondering—how concerned should we really be? 🤔 In a recent article, five leading experts weighed in on the debate. Here's what they said: Catherine Page Jeffery (University of Sydney) emphasizes the positive connections and learning opportunities social media offers young people. Jo Robinson (The University of Melbourne) stresses the importance of mental health support and resources that platforms can provide. Nandi Vijayakumar (Deakin University) highlights the need for a balanced approach—focusing on education, not just restriction. However, others, like Daniel Angus (QUT), argue that monitoring and safeguards are essential to protect against the potential harm of constant exposure. While three out of five experts believe parents shouldn’t be too worried, it’s clear that regulation and education go hand-in-hand. This is where LifeBrand can make a real difference. LifeBrand’s social media education tools empower young people and parents by teaching them how to safely manage online presence, recognize potential risks, and make more informed decisions. Instead of focusing solely on restrictions, LifeBrand helps guide families toward responsible, positive use of social media. 💡 What do you think about the potential ban? Should we focus more on education or regulation? #SocialMedia #Parenting #DigitalSafety #YouthAndTech #MentalHealth #LifeBrand #SocialMediaEducation https://lnkd.in/epc2s4Fx

ADDRESSING YOUTH VULNERABILITY TO SOCIAL MEDIA May is Mental Health Awareness Month and young people are increasingly more vulnerable to the negative influences of social & digital media. US high school students increasingly feel persistent sadness or hopelessness: - Females: 56% in 2021, up from only 34% in 2004 - Males: 31% in 2021, up from only 14% in 2004 - 30% of US teen girls seriously considered suicide in 2021 Research shows that media literacy education can protect young people from mindsets that lead to eating disorders, poor body image, low self-esteem, depression, substance abuse and anger management. The American Psychological Association says that: "Adolescents’ social media use should be preceded by training in SOCIAL MEDIA LITERACY to ensure that users have developed psychologically-informed competencies and skills that will maximize the chances for balanced, safe, and meaningful social media use.” If you would like to support my volunteer advisory work with MEDIA LITERACY NOW, please direct message me through LinkedIn. #MediaLiteracy #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth

🌐 Reflecting on the Latest APA Research on Youth and Social Media (2024) 🌐 As founders of Communicode, we're always tuned into the latest insights and research that impact our youth's mental health, especially in the context of technology. The recent study published by the American Psychological Association (APA) provides crucial data on how social media usage is influencing the mental well-being of young people. The APA's findings underscore a complex relationship between social media and mental health, which resonates deeply with our mission at Communicode. Our platform is designed not only to detect and address mental health issues but also to empower educational institutions to better support their students in a digital age. Key takeaways from the study highlight the importance of proactive mental health strategies, particularly the need for tools that help manage and mitigate the potential negative effects of social media exposure. At Communicode, we are committed to integrating these insights into our services, enhancing our AI-driven solutions to foster a safer, healthier digital environment for students. As we continue to advance our technology, we aim to keep pace with ongoing research to provide the most effective support for our users. We believe in creating a dialogue between technology providers, educators, and mental health professionals to build a supportive ecosystem around our youth. Let's keep the conversation going. How do you think digital platforms can further adapt to support the mental health of young users? #MentalHealth #YouthDevelopment #DigitalWellbeing #EduTech #SocialMediaImpact https://lnkd.in/dnSyqXfJ

https://lnkd.in/gSMZRDmn That’s courage for you! That’s something Spore authorities can learn from other countries, rather than wait to see how other countries are faring before taking that crucial step to keep her citizens safe, especially the young ones. The same can be said about our lack of courage to do more / to take the initiative to do away with PSLE, to take away the focus on grades, to repeal 377A, to establishing policies that encourage work-life balance through flexible work arrangements, to recognize that Spore has a crucial mental health challenge, etc, etc. Our authorities maybe great at dealing with infrastructure issues / weaknesses, but have a long way to go in dealing effectively and in a timely manner on issues that affect the people.