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| Patrick Ward discusses the effects of technology on children during a free informational talk at Harmar Elementary School. Photo by Peyton Neely |
“Not just social media but technology all together has changed drastically since we were young,” said parent Dave Miller, 32, of Marietta. “This is something we didn’t have to deal with when we were little and now social media is incorporated in everyday lives of kids.”
Miller, along with several other parents and teachers, listened to the advice Patrick Ward, a family therapist from Parkersburg, had to share about any concerns they had with social media.
“I know from first-hand experience that this is a growing problem,” said Ward, who is also a parent himself. “This is really the first generation of parents that has to figure out how to manage media every day.”
Ward shared with the group tips on how to address the social media issue among children ages 10 through 14.
“One way is to keep an eye on the amount of time your child spends on their electronics,” he said.
According to the Social Media Survey in 2016, 93 percent of teens ages 12 to17 go online, 69 percent of teens have their own computer, 63 percent of teen Internet users go online every day, 27 percent of teens use their phone to get online and 24 percent of teens with a game console use it to go online.
“Not knowing the people they can come into contact with is really scary,” said Karita Miller, 32, of Marietta.
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Source: Parkersburg News
