Exploratory Essay

Over the years, the internet has developed into a widespread tool for people of different ages to make use of. Whether it is to search for information, communicate with others or experiment with online database, the internet has served as means for different ends. However, considering the matter of how open the worldwide web is, how easily accessible it is, and how it can basically expose one to just about anything, some question the effect of this on younger generations. It is arguable on one hand, the access to the internet to children and underage teens should be limited and supervised by parents. While, this is believed to limit the younger generations’ freedom of speech and creativity, as well as their scope of knowledge and insight on

It is necessary because an abundance use of internet leads to addiction which is a major public health issue encountering many adolescents of this current generation. Chang, et al (2015) states the different risks adolescents may be exposed to which include: pornography, cyberbullying, depression, suicide, addiction. Thus, supervision would contribute to the elimination of the risk of addiction. For instance, if parents would monitor their children in a way that they would not be spending excessive time on their computers, they would have more time to socialize and do certain activities that would lead to a better physiological state. Furthermore, monitoring adolescents would mean shaping the child’s environment because in the end the rules and regulations the parents provide determine the usage of these digital devices. Nathanson simplifies adult supervision to 3 phases. First, he asserts that media content should be discussed so that the child is fully aware. Second, exposure to this content should be limited. Finally, spending quality time, meaning watching the program with the child. (Kostryka-Allchorne, Cooper, Simpson, 2017). Therefore, providing such an environment, where there is a healthy state of interaction between the parent and the adolescent would definitely contribute to the reduction of various health issues and would boost the child’s characteristics

Kerr and Statin (2000) suggest that “controlling adolescent’s freedom to come and go as they please is a questionable strategy” (p. 377) for discovering where they are and for developing good adjustment (Liau, Khoo, and Ang, 2008). This is realized in the famous Arabic quote: “The forbidden is the most wanted”. For example, if children are prohibited the usage of internet in their homes, they would feel the need to seek it in a place outside home including a friend’s house or electronic shop where they could encounter harmful people or content. In contrast, if a child is not under constant supervision this would give him/her a feeling of responsibility and confidence and one would lose the need to hide anything from the parents, and would freely come to their parents for guidance and knowledge. Therefore, Adolescents should be given the chance to do things on their own so they can draw their own path and distinguish the good from the bad through acquiring certain digital skills and confidence. Regarding their young ages, youngsters are capable of dealing with negative online factors and perhaps even more than their parents that are viewed as less experienced users (Racatau, 2014). Adolescents should be viewed as confident and skilled users rather than naive and unable to see actual threats. This would definitely contribute to avoiding the negative impacts