When Snapchat’s own AI bot gives instructions about self-harming behavior or expresses itself positively about cannabis, it is close at hand for adults to want to ban it. But it is completely the wrong way to go, believes Hanna Thermaenius, psychologist at Rädda Barnen.
– When we have that attitude, it often becomes very unhelpful.
Many children, like many adults, want to explore new features, new games and new apps. If the adult world then responds with prohibitions and prohibitions, it will be much more difficult to ask for help when the child actually needs it.
– What I least recommend is to continue with punishment. The most important thing is that what children do becomes talkable, says Hanna Thermaenius.
It’s about how we make the use of what the children want to use safe, she thinks. Then you as an adult must take an interest in your child’s online life.
Source criticism is important
– We have to look at what they are doing online almost every day, ask them to show and ask questions: What have you heard? The source criticism becomes one of the most important parts here: Can it be believed? What does that mean?
Hanna Thermaenius points out that exclusion from social media through, for example, a Snapchat ban also means removing what she calls healthy factors in the lives of children and young people.
– The Internet is a place where children feel quite safe, because there you can be yourself, which means that you may have your social contacts there. It’s how you know what’s going on, it’s how you meet someone, it’s how you share what homework you have and it’s how you have someone to say goodnight to.
Balance is important
At the same time, it is important to have a balance, so that the child does not become so attached to the mobile phone or computer that it overshadows everything else that is important in life.
– It is always worthwhile for parents and children to talk together about how much is appropriate. And it looks very different for different children.
She compares life online among platforms and games to moving in very difficult-to-navigate traffic in a new big city. There is a lot here that is exciting and fun, but also things that are clever, difficult and dangerous.
The smallest children must be held tightly by the hand. Then, based on age and maturity, you can let go in small steps.
– If we are a little naive and say that you must absolutely not watch this and not do this, then there is a risk that the children will do it anyway – and then it will be crazy.