Kids and Phones

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Galatea

Guest
#1
#1
I have been having these thoughts for a few years, but the conviction has intensified lately. I really believe that Satan is using the internet via devices to corrupt kids- in all sorts of ways. I don't have children, so I suppose my advice could be discounted.

But I am on the "front lines". I see what has happened with kids and the internet, and it is not beneficial. For one, they are able to access pornography. I know that people may think that their kids are in church and youth group, so won't succumb- but if this thing entraps grown men, how much more so kids who are not mature enough to resist such temptation and curiosity?

Second, they can talk to any sort of creeper. Some kids are naïve. They may think they are talking to another teen, when all along, it is a grown man on the other end. One of my students this year was scared because a forty year old man contacted her. She showed me her phone and I pretended to be her mom and threatened the man with the police. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD TO DO THIS FOR A YOUNG GIRL. I contacted their parents afterward. I had a student ask me how much a bus ticket to New Orleans was as her online boyfriend was there and she wanted to run away with him. Thank God they tell me things so I can call parents.

Third, they feel like if they are not communicating with their friends 24/7 via media, they are missing out. They have actually cried because I have taken their phones for the class period. I have heard statements "He did not like my post on Instagram" and "It took her three minutes to respond to my text". They have their self worth tied up in their media. Online bullying is rampant, too.

Fourth, and this is what has really made me mad, there is an app called Blue Whale that tells kids they have to self harm 49 days and kill themselves on the 50th day. If they don't kill themselves the 50th day, then they think their phones will be hacked.

The longer I teach, the more I am convinced that kids SHOULD NOT HAVE DEVICES, PERIOD!!

Even one of my really good Christian boys told me yesterday that he stayed awake until 2:00 am watching youtube- people playing video games.

I just believe very strongly that kids do not need unsupervised access to the internet.

Protecting your kids includes protecting their minds. Garbage in, garbage out.
 
EarnestQ

EarnestQ

Senior Member
#2
Apr 28, 2016
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#2
I think you are right but what can be done other than what you are doing? May God give you wisdom to pursue this a far as He wants you to.
 
G

Galatea

Guest
#3
#3
EarnestQ said:
I think you are right but what can be done other than what you are doing? May God give you wisdom to pursue this a far as He wants you to.
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The only thing I can do is inform parents. I think many times, parents want to think their kids won't fall into bad things online because they have their kids in church. But this is really fallacious, because kids are not mature enough to resist things they could get caught up in.

One of my coworkers said if he were not a teacher and a coach, he'd have no idea what kids are up to on their phones. They are not just playing candy crush all day.

I guess this is just one of my public announcements.

I know it would be hard to deny kids their own devices, as every kid has one. I don't think they have any good effects on kids at all, only negative ones.

Thanks for your post.
 
Demi777

Demi777

Senior Member
#4
Oct 13, 2014
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#4
Parents can very much make sure kids and teens r mature enough to have a phone, by which internet access is possible. It is easy for a parent to block the internet from a phone of a minor.
Parents have to do their job to prepare their kids for this world.
 
EarnestQ

EarnestQ

Senior Member
#5
Apr 28, 2016
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#5
There are probably programs out there that can be put on phones that restrict certain internet subjects. You could educate yourself about them and make them available to the parents of your students.
 
G

Galatea

Guest
#6
#6
Demi777 said:
Parents can very much make sure kids and teens r mature enough to have a phone, by which internet access is possible. It is easy for a parent to block the internet from a phone of a minor.
Parents have to do their job to prepare their kids for this world.
Click to expand...
The argument I hear about allowing kids to have devices, is that they have to be able to function in this digital world. This is true, but they get these skills from school. Most schools teach students how to ise the internet to research, make projects, how to use e-mail, etc. Kids are not doing anything educational with devices on their own (maybe a few- but not very many).

You are correct, there are apps and ways for parents to monitor their children's online use and texts- but kids are savvy and can often get around these protections. I have students who have two facebooks and two instagrams- one they have for their parents and then their "real one". They just use fake names, and voila! These are middle school kids, and they are pretty savvy.
 
M

missy2014

Guest
#7
#7
Demi777 said:
Parents can very much make sure kids and teens r mature enough to have a phone, by which internet access is possible. It is easy for a parent to block the internet from a phone of a minor.
Parents have to do their job to prepare their kids for this world.
Click to expand...
Missing you narly tee how cute! But your not looking so cute and young now your looking older with your I forget what you call it just older 17 going on 21 its 1am so you'll have to excuse me with words
 
G

Galatea

Guest
#8
#8
EarnestQ said:
There are probably programs out there that can be put on phones that restrict certain internet subjects. You could educate yourself about them and make them available to the parents of your students.
Click to expand...
Yes, this is a good idea. I think it is kind of scary to rely on these blocks and protections, though, as kids are so savvy they can often figure out how to get around them.

Educating myself about the blocking apps is very sound advice, thanks.

I somewhat feel like John the Baptist on this topic, a voice "crying in the wilderness" and not too many people listening.
 
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missy2014

Guest
#9
#9
Yeh newphew has just got a cell he's 8 but he's got all the features he's too young imo aww your big puppy eyes demi your still cute hah love ur photos keep em' coming
 
Demi777

Demi777

Senior Member
#10
Oct 13, 2014
6,891
1,961
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#10
missy2014 said:
Missing you narly tee how cute! But your not looking so cute and young now your looking older with your I forget what you call it just older 17 going on 21 its 1am so you'll have to excuse me with words
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Hahaha im on my way home lol. My inner wisdom just shows huh Lol
 
Demi777

Demi777

Senior Member
#11
Oct 13, 2014
6,891
1,961
113
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#11
Galatea said:
The argument I hear about allowing kids to have devices, is that they have to be able to function in this digital world. This is true, but they get these skills from school. Most schools teach students how to ise the internet to research, make projects, how to use e-mail, etc. Kids are not doing anything educational with devices on their own (maybe a few- but not very many).

You are correct, there are apps and ways for parents to monitor their children's online use and texts- but kids are savvy and can often get around these protections. I have students who have two facebooks and two instagrams- one they have for their parents and then their "real one". They just use fake names, and voila! These are middle school kids, and they are pretty savvy.
Click to expand...
Well there are apps and programms where they cant pass by because everything suspicious gets send to the parents phone. I saw that on the Doctor's.
To be honest, for me porn and stuff isnt a temptation. And we use the phones for research in class. Translating and stuff things that arent on our books. Also looking up places to apply for jobs etc.
Phones get used more than u think for good.
I grew up in a way explaining that porn is unnatural, not needed because theres nothing of the real world associated with it..and its boring, so dont waste ur time on illegal stuff that isnt even for real and look at documentations haha
 
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missy2014

Guest
#12
#12
Galatea said:
The argument I hear about allowing kids to have devices, is that they have to be able to function in this digital world. This is true, but they get these skills from school. Most schools teach students how to ise the internet to research, make projects, how to use e-mail, etc. Kids are not doing anything educational with devices on their own (maybe a few- but not very many).

You are correct, there are apps and ways for parents to monitor their children's online use and texts- but kids are savvy and can often get around these protections. I have students who have two facebooks and two instagrams- one they have for their parents and then their "real one". They just use fake names, and voila! These are middle school kids, and they are pretty savvy.
Click to expand...
Interesting topics yeah Satan is using it what others have mentioned is we need wisdom, time limits limits of content and precautions such as blocking . to be honest tho a child gets to a certain age where like my nephew they can be a worldly Christian its hurts a little to say that about my nephew and many kids more so western kids but yeh they choose I choose to follow God at early age even when we had this funny blocky first video games that came out lol "90s"~ but yeh I had some experiences with TV etc as a child that didn't please the Lord but like demi says its OK within reason and precautions also teach kids to love and fear God
That u know worldliness is not oK. God created technology but yeh I can see the danger's for esp child my nephew like any child is easily innocently or innocent eyes persuaded with these very satanic music videos I shudder and hate it when he sees those.Children are very perceptive and learn easily as we all know so YouTube games etc is really bad within limits, precaution like I said but yeah.. Lord raise our child up to be godly amen?
 
G

Galatea

Guest
#13
#13
missy2014 said:
Yeh newphew has just got a cell he's 8 but he's got all the features he's too young imo aww your big puppy eyes demi your still cute hah love ur photos keep em' coming
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Wow, eight is really young. I hope your nephew's parents have things blocked on his phone. I think you should tell them about the danger, there was even one game that seems benign that kids his age play, but predators are able to talk to kids on the game and have tried to lure them.
 
G

Galatea

Guest
#14
#14
Demi777 said:
Well there are apps and programms where they cant pass by because everything suspicious gets send to the parents phone. I saw that on the Doctor's.
To be honest, for me porn and stuff isnt a temptation. And we use the phones for research in class. Translating and stuff things that arent on our books. Also looking up places to apply for jobs etc.
Phones get used more than u think for good.
I grew up in a way explaining that porn is unnatural, not needed because theres nothing of the real world associated with it..and its boring, so dont waste ur time on illegal stuff that isnt even for real and look at documentations haha
Click to expand...
I know that devices are used a lot in school to research. That's good- and I would hazard a guess that the vast majority of schools in the United States have an abundance of devices available to students, so they don't need their own.

One problem I think we have here is that parents are not nearly as savvy as their kids when it comes to blocks and filters. I know some kids have mad skills and are able to get around filters.
 
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missy2014

Guest
#15
#15
Demi777 said:
Well there are apps and programms where they cant pass by because everything suspicious gets send to the parents phone. I saw that on the Doctor's.
To be honest, for me porn and stuff isnt a temptation. And we use the phones for research in class. Translating and stuff things that arent on our books. Also looking up places to apply for jobs etc.
Phones get used more than u think for good.
I grew up in a way explaining that porn is unnatural, not needed because theres nothing of the real world associated with it..and its boring, so dont waste ur time on illegal stuff that isnt even for real and look at documentations haha
Click to expand...
Exactly they use it in schools at least computer apps with the primary/ elementary kids it gets promoted in schools which is good within safe boundaries
 
M

missy2014

Guest
#16
#16
Galatea said:
Wow, eight is really young. I hope your nephew's parents have things blocked on his phone. I think you should tell them about the danger, there was even one game that seems benign that kids his age play, but predators are able to talk to kids on the game and have tried to lure them.
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Yeh wowza makes me mad I think the game is minecraft idk... I don't keep up with things
 
M

missy2014

Guest
#17
#17
Galatea said:
Wow, eight is really young. I hope your nephew's parents have things blocked on his phone. I think you should tell them about the danger, there was even one game that seems benign that kids his age play, but predators are able to talk to kids on the game and have tried to lure them.
Click to expand...
Yup exactly and take the instance of the ability to call anyone if parents aren't or grand parents in my parents case aren't tech savy they won't know to block phone numbers shudders to think my nephew has the phone to call ppl re: predators thinks of dinosaurs lol real dangers Galatea too right my goodness!
 
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missy2014

Guest
#18
#18
And let's not assume all 30 something parents are tech savy yup like me late 20s they grew with computers in school but not all of them know what a filter is or more so how to use one. It would surprise how many people ie in their 30s aren't tech savy
 
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missy2014

Guest
#19
#19
My brother father of my nephew isn't very tech savy and there's only 6 years difference between us. So will he know what a filter is or heard prob not. Although his partner is more tech savy. And that's the things these 30 something parents that aren't tech savy like my brother has expressed opinion to me before on this he's not tech savvy cause he chooses not to be he doesn't want to get caught up in all hassle and intake of knowledge with technology and fair enough- never to old to learn but I understand I know how he feels.
 
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Demi777

Demi777

Senior Member
#20
Oct 13, 2014
6,891
1,961
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Germany
#20
but still if you let a child grow up right, they wont feel so tempted to do crazy stuff with it.
i had my first phone in elementary school (when it was cool if you have a new ringtone)..my first phone with internet access was around..like.. 15 or 16 (you couldnt get any apps on that one and the internet was sooo slow) and just now after my brthday I got a phone where u can make and play vids and stuff..
people give too much too fast

Galatea said:
I know that devices are used a lot in school to research. That's good- and I would hazard a guess that the vast majority of schools in the United States have an abundance of devices available to students, so they don't need their own.

One problem I think we have here is that parents are not nearly as savvy as their kids when it comes to blocks and filters. I know some kids have mad skills and are able to get around filters.
Click to expand...
 
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