ATOT Parents: What does everyone here do to teach your young kids about combating online misinformation?

evident

Lifer

Apr 5, 2005

12,042

652

126

• Nov 7, 2024

• #1

As my toddlers get older I wonder what the best way for me to educate them about misinformation, advertisements and generally bullshit that they undoubtedly will encounter in life and on the internet.
I plan on not letting them have their own devices until as old as possible and even then i'll monitor it extensively. just thinking about it seems extremely overwhelming but I want to plan ahead while I still have a few years.

Thoughts?

 

Charmonium

Lifer

May 15, 2015

10,080

3,222

136

• Nov 7, 2024

• #2

I avoided having kids like the plague. That's my solution

 

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biostud

Lifer

Feb 27, 2003

18,846

5,706

136

• Nov 7, 2024

• #3

I have four kids age 0-7 and work with teenagers on a daily basis as I work in a school. I'll return here with some thoughts when I have more time.

 

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IBMJunkman

Senior member

May 7, 2015

756

268

136

• Nov 7, 2024

• #4

If something sounds too good to be true, it generally is.

Always consider the source.

 

biostud

Lifer

Feb 27, 2003

18,846

5,706

136

• Nov 7, 2024

• #5

Be curious with your children, have them show some of the things they see and discuss it.

Don't give them access to SoMe before the age restrictions.

I'm not giving my kids their own devices either and they have restricted time screen time.

But I think it is just as important as a parent that you also limit your activities on SoMe. My wife has no SoMe accounts and I'm only posting in here.

So as parent you need to be available to your children, show them how to do it right and don't punish them for going the wrong way, but guide them back to what you believe to be the best way.

 

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thestrangebrew1

Diamond Member

Dec 7, 2011

3,683

503

126

• Nov 7, 2024

• #6

biostud said:

Be curious with your children, have them show some of the things they see and discuss it.

Don't give them access to SoMe before the age restrictions.

I'm not giving my kids their own devices either and they have restricted time screen time.

But I think it is just as important as a parent that you also limit your activities on SoMe. My wife has no SoMe accounts and I'm only posting in here.

So as parent you need to be available to your children, show them how to do it right and don't punish them for going the wrong way, but guide them back to what you believe to be the best way.

Click to expand...

A little late for my kid (15) with SoMe but we limit her time. She's mostly on tiktok and snap when she's on, but we follow her and also check her activity. She plays video games mostly (Roblox and Minecraft) and she has her own phone and ipad. She watches the local news (ABC) with us and doesn't really consume information on the internet. But yeah SoMe is where her interactions with friends occur regarding politics. Her classmates post stuff for either DT or KH but she doesn't responded with her opinion and get into it with the people she disagrees with on there. She just laughs it off, and tells us about it, or asks us questions about a specific topic.

 

nisryus

Senior member

Sep 11, 2007

800

165

116

• Nov 8, 2024

• #7

My kid's school reinforce critical thinking skill early on, and I tried to expose him to news and information from multiple sources, and from different view points. Taught him how to research, and then ask questions. Try not to belong to one party, and think from walking in someone's shoes before making a decision.

 

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