📱🚫 Wetin You Need to Sabi About Limiting Your Pikin’s Screen Time
Concerned parents dem, una get plenti tools wey dey available, including free software from Apple and Google, to actively oversee how your pikin dey use dem tech.
Attention, parents wey get “screenagers”: Di U.S. government don yan say make una shine una eye 👀 as una pikin dey scroll through apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, e fit pose serious risks to your pikin’s mental health. 😰
In one 19-page report, Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy talk say while social media fit offer some advantages to younger people dem, like the ability to connect with communities, e still fit expose dem to potential harm, like cyberbullying and content wey promote eating disorders, self-harm, and other destructive behavior. E still fit affect exercise, sleep, and other activities, according to am. 😔
Wetin parents fit do? One thing be say make dem explore potential options to limit dem pikin’s screen time. Make we yan about dem.
Which tools dey available, and where we fit get dem? 🛠️🤔 Google and Apple mobile operating systems get free tools wey fit effective to restrict screen time for smartphones and tablets. These tools allow parents dem to monitor and set limits on top dia pikin dem devices. 📲⏰
For Android devices dem, we get Family Link, one app wey pesin suppose download through Google Play Store. From dia, parents dem fit set up dia pikin Google account to dey monitored with the software. If you dey use iPhone and you want manage your pikin’s Android phone, dem still get Family Link app for iOS. 🤳🔒
For iPhones, Apple iOS include one tool wey dem call Screen Time, wey fit limit di time wey pesin dey spend for the device. E fit activate inside di iPhone settings app as Apple go teach you. ⏱️📱
These tools dem good like that? 🤔👍👎 Both of dem get pros and cons.
Google Family Link get useful features, like the option to reject apps wey your pikin dey try download and the ability to lock down the device at specific times—for example, between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. when the pikin dey sleep. 😴🔒
But Family Link get one major limitation: when pikin reach 13 years, dem fit choose to “graduate,” as Google call am, and remove di restrictions. At that age, the pikin don reach the minimum age requirement for the United States to create one Google account without parental consent. 🎓📵
One way wey parents fit workaround if dem still want to use the restrictions na to go into the pikin’s Google account and modify the age to under 13. 😉🔐
We don also test Apple Screen Time feature for one weekslong experiment when the tool first come out. The feature allow parents dem to create time limits for specific apps or categories of apps, like social networking or games, for dia pikin’s iPhones. Once the pikin finish di time for one app, e go lock the pikin out. The parent dem fit then get conversation with the pikin and decide whether to allow additional time on top one app. ⌛📲
One downside be say parents wey dey use the tools to monitor their own phone use, fit easily bypass di restrictions using dia passcode—and dem fit even realize say dem sef dey addicted to their screens pass their pikin dem. 🤫📱🙈
Any other options dey? 🤔✨ Yes, we still get other options.
Some third-party Android and iOS apps dey wey allow parents dem to manage screen time, but dem suppose use am with caution. Some apps wey no too popular and wey dem dey advertise as parental control apps, don even dey used by some people wey dey stalk and track the users dem location and even fit dey eavesdrop on top dem through dia microphones. Dem kind of malicious software, security researchers dem call am “stalkerware.” 🚫🕵️♀️📱
Parents dem get plenty resources to find reputable tools wey fit also work on top personal computers, as well as phones and tablets. Common Sense Media, one nonprofit wey dey review products for families, don find out say Qustodio and NetNanny dey give parents deep control of their pikin dem devices. 📚💻
Social media companies dem also offer some features wey fit help limit the use of dia apps. For example, Instagram get “Take a Break” reminder wey fit dey activated, and TikTok this year introduce dia own tool for limiting the time wey pesin fit spend inside dia app. ⏳🚫📸
As parents dem, make una take time ensure say una pikin dem dey use dem tech wisely and dey protected from di potential risks wey dey come with am. E dey important to strike di right balance between screen time and other activities wey go promote your pikin’s overall well-being. 🙌💻👨👩👧👦
Stay informed, stay safe! 📰🔒😊
NOW IN ENGLISH
📱🚫 What You Need to Know About Limiting Your Child’s Screen Time
Concerned parents, you have plenty of tools available, including free software from Apple and Google, to actively monitor how your child uses technology.
Attention, parents of “screenagers”: The U.S. government has urged you to keep a close eye 👀 on your child as they scroll through apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, as they can pose serious risks to your child’s mental health. 😰
In a 19-page report, Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy explained that while social media can offer some advantages to young people, such as the ability to connect with communities, it can also expose them to potential harm, such as cyberbullying and content that promotes eating disorders, self-harm, and other destructive behaviors. It can also impact exercise, sleep, and other activities. 😔
So, what can parents do? One option is to explore ways to limit your child’s screen time. Let’s discuss some of these options.
What tools are available, and where can you find them? 🛠️🤔 Both Google and Apple’s mobile operating systems provide free and effective tools to restrict screen time on smartphones and tablets. These tools allow parents to monitor and set limits on their child’s devices. 📲⏰
For Android devices, you can download the Family Link app from the Google Play Store. With this app, parents can set up and monitor their child’s Google account. If you’re using an iPhone and want to manage your child’s Android phone, there is also a Family Link app available for iOS. 🤳🔒
For iPhones, Apple’s iOS includes a tool called Screen Time, which can limit the amount of time a person spends on the device. It can be activated through the iPhone settings app, and Apple provides instructions on how to do so. ⏱️📱
Are these tools effective? 🤔👍👎 Both of these tools have their pros and cons.
Google Family Link has useful features, such as the ability to block apps that your child tries to download and the option to lock the device during specific times, like when your child is sleeping between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. 😴🔒
However, Family Link has one major limitation: When a child turns 13, they can choose to “graduate,” as Google calls it, and remove the restrictions. At that age, the child meets the minimum age requirement in the United States to create a Google account without parental consent. 🎓📵
One workaround for parents who still want to use the restrictions is to go into their child’s Google account and modify the age to under 13. 😉🔐
We also tested Apple’s Screen Time feature during a weeks-long experiment when it was first released. This feature allows parents to set time limits for specific apps or app categories, such as social networking or games, on their child’s iPhones. Once the time limit for an app is reached, the device locks the child out. Parents can then have a conversation with their child and decide whether to allow additional time on that app. ⌛📲
One downside is that parents who use these tools to monitor their own phone use can easily bypass the restrictions using their passcode—and they may even realize that they themselves are more addicted to their screens than their children. 🤫📱🙈
Are there any other options? 🤔✨ Yes, there are other options available.
Some third-party Android and iOS apps allow parents to manage screen time, but caution should be exercised. Some less popular apps that are advertised as parental control apps have been used by people to stalk and track users’ locations and even eavesdrop on them through their device’s microphones. These types of malicious software are referred to as “stalkerware” by security researchers. 🚫🕵️♀️📱
Parents have plenty of resources to find reputable tools that can also work on personal computers, as well as phones and tablets. Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization that reviews products for families, has found that Qustodio and NetNanny provide parents with extensive control over their child’s devices. 📚💻
Social media companies also offer features that can help limit the use of their apps. For example, Instagram has a “Take a Break” reminder that can be activated, and TikTok introduced its own tool this year to limit the time a person can spend within the app. ⏳🚫📸
As parents, take the time to ensure that your children are using technology wisely and are protected from the potential risks that come with it. It is important to strike the right balance between screen time and other activities that promote your child’s overall well-being. 🙌💻👨👩👧👦
Stay informed, stay safe! 📰🔒😊
