Don't hate me for this one, but PARENTS ARE BAD AT THEIR JOBS. I am a high school freshman, and on my bus ride home or to therapy (therapy on thursdays), I always, and I mean ALWAYS, see at least ONE elementary schooler with a phone, and hear MULTIPLE swear words thrown around by elementary kids. The job of a parent is to protect children from inappropriate stuff (i.e. social media and swears). Yet, I hear and see so many kids, some as young as KINDERGARTEN, dropping F-bombs and using phones. WHY. The parents don't even reprimand these kids, as they do it DAILY. (the teachers don't stop it either, but they at least try). If you are a parent and you read this, I am not attacking you, I am just speaking my opinion based on my experiences after school.
I think it's always a good point to remember that there is no guide to parenting - they will make mistakes but are
usually just trying their best and doing what they think is best for their kids. Transitioning, though, to your point about phones, I do agree. I think kids are being started on electronic devices, at least devices in which they can access various social platforms, far too early. My guess in these behaviors the kids display are learned through these platforms (and then each other) as opposed to from the parents. Perhaps many parents could take additional steps to limit their children from their access to social media and other multimedia platforms, but we also live in an age where technology is becoming far more prominent and integral. Kids often start using electronic devices like Chromebooks or iPads as early as a kindergarten/First Grade (at least in the U.S.), thus honing their "device-using skills". Especially as newer parents and current younger adults begin to have kids, this is one of the first generations of parents who had "earlier" access to technology. It would make sense, then, that technology would be more accessible in the homes of these kids. Whether the parents do or do not know what the kid is accessing, it is likely that the child's knowledge and technology ability is aided by more than just the what the parent showed them/knows. It's also pertinent to understand that as technology becomes more prominent in the lives of the younger generation, more and more will start to have personal access to devices due to changing societal norms. As I previously mentioned, pretty much every parent wants to be a "good parent" and this often includes doing your best to ensure your children will "fit in" (please note I'm not in any way referring to or condoning efforts to change the core beliefs or identity of said child). In a material sense, this encompasses providing your child with what everyone else may like or have, such as a phone. Especially in an age where communication has vastly shifted to a digital medium, these devices may serve as a tool to fit in, stay connected, and make/maintain friendships. In this sense, I think it's less of an argument on "bad parenting" and one of more on changing societal and technological norms, and whether the benefits outweigh the costs (especially pertaining to those of a younger age).
I do agree with you though. I think early exposure to technology is important, especially in a technologically driven society, but to an extent. Given the many negative (increasing) impacts social media is seen to have on society today, I think it is important to shield younger-aged children from it. In fact, I think it's important to limit use as an adult too, but that is a personal choice each person must make for themselves. The increasing use of social media and communication platforms, especially pertaining to younger children whereas that of physical communication could greatly impact the future generations' communication capabilities. Grade school is an extremely formative time of our lives. Replacing physical communication with that of a digital variety deprives us of the ability to hone our interpersonal communication skills, which do come in quite useful later in life. Additionally, increased exposure to various online platforms not only exposes kids to indecent language which they likely don't understand the implications of yet, but also various other forms of harmful information: harmful self-images, stereotypes, misinformation, etc.. Not yet possessing the critical thinking skills to process right from wrong, true from false, these media platforms could serve an early dose of harmful information to kids.
Perhaps parents could do more to limit their kids' access to these sites, as well as social media companies being more stringent on age restrictions and content. And/or, perhaps, we as a society need to move the emphasis away from online presence and instead focus on more in-person connections.
