Nexus IT Takes the Stage at Park City TV to Discuss Kids and Technology

Discussing Kids and Technology at Park City TV

In a recent interview with Park City TV, Earl Foote and Travis Gunn at Nexus IT discussed the topic of kids and technology. We strongly recommend all parents pay attention to this highly important conversation about technology and how to help your children use it safely. Earl prefaced the interview to mention how early children are exposed to technology around the world. He mentions that there’s a trend of kids being on electronic devices to keep them busy as early as 6 months old. Take a look around any airport or shopping center and you’re bound to see quite a few children holding their mom or dad’s smartphone, tablet or other device.

What’s the risk of allowing children to use technology?

Technology plays an important role in our personal and professional lives, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s vital to set limits. Earl mentions that there are scientific studies showing too much screen time is unhealthy for developing minds. He states that anywhere between 1 – 3 hours per day is likely a safe amount of screen time. But is it only development we should be concerned about? Or are there other risks involved with children using technology?

Travis mentions that many kids are starting to experience physical problems, such as neck or back pain, from spending too much time on technology. It’s not always about the developmental risks, but the physical harm caused by staying stationary and looking at a screen.

How can parents start managing screen-time?

Earl goes on to say that we live in a generation where it’s very difficult to manage screen time. As a parent himself, he understands the challenges associated with cutting your child’s screen time back once they’ve gotten used to it. He mentions that the time to set limits is when they’re smaller because once they’re teenagers, it’s much harder to say they have to cut back. Travis spoke about a very clever idea: whatever amount of time they spend on their phone, they need to spend 3 times that amount of time doing another hobby.

Every device nowadays allow you to break down the amount of time you’re spending on each application. Travis recommends parents use this information to monitor what they’re doing and how much time they’re spending doing it. Most devices offer permissions for parents to set the amount of screen-time allowed or set specific times their children can use the device.

Does technology spark any concern in terms of child safety?

Naturally, there are many applications that can be incredibly harmful to a child’s safety. Unfortunately, these applications tend to be what kids want to use. Instagram, Snapchat, and other popular photo sharing platforms have the potential for harmful exposure. Snapchat, in particular, allows you to send photos that can be automatically deleted – making it an appealing choice for young teenagers looking to send explicit photos.

At the end of the day, it’s all about teaching your kids to use applications in a productive manner and stay safe when they’re on the internet. Travis mentions that he teaches his kids everything they post will be seen and it doesn’t go away. Earl follows with a quick remark about educating your kids on the potential dangers and how to set healthy boundaries.

Check out the video clip to view the entire interview. Questions about the dangers of technology for children? Call or email us at . We’d be happy to address any concerns you may have.