Manage online exposure to technology for children
What you need to know:
- The issue: Artificial intelligence
- Our view: So while we might be in a race to have our children tech savvy and caught up on all that the digital world has to offer, or even simply to keep them busy, we must be wary of what we might be opening them up to. But since abstaining from use and exploration of AI applications in this day and age is simply foolish and impossible, parents and guardians must make the time to educate themselves about AI and all things internet.
During a stakeholders consultative workshop on Artificial Intelligence (AI) hosted by Uganda Communications Commission in Kampala early this week, experts warned parents to slow down on new technology pointing out that over exposure of children to AI has both positive and negative impacts.
With the children home from school for the long third term holiday, parents and guardians can’t be blamed for grasping at anything tangible and within reach to keep them busy and in a controlled environment.
Usually gadgets such as phones, tabs and the like are a common go-to for parents but also a favourite for young people. But like is often said, too much of anything is bad. In comes over exposure to the internet and all the things that it ushers in including many AI applications. It might seem like a safe and a controlled environment but is it?
One of the participants at the workshop Michael Niyitegeka, the executive director of Refactory Uganda spoke of a school that decided to create email addressed for young children but due to the requirement of parental control for individuals aged under 18, the school simply registered everyone as 18 years of age. Clearly the school didn’t understand the importance of parental control and how signing up underage users as 18-year-olds exposes them to all manner inappropriate and dangerous content.
So while we might be in a race to have our children tech savvy and caught up on all that the digital world has to offer, or even simply to keep them busy, we must be wary of what we might be opening them up to.
But since abstaining from use and exploration of AI applications in this day and age is simply foolish and impossible, parents and guardians must make the time to educate themselves about AI and all things internet. Only then will they be able to know what and what not to expose their children to.
We agree with Mr Niyetegeka when he says that there is urgent need for parents to invest in education and to understand how technology works and how to manage online exposure for their children. Everything in moderation and age appropriately.
