Have you noticed how rude and inappropriate people can be online, whether in comments on social media or in a WhatsApp group? This phenomenon is called the online disinhibition effect, and is also the reason why many young people so easily become victims of online exploitation.

Esteé Cockcroft, a media and communications expert from Gqeberha and co-author of the book Screen Smart: A Guide to Safe Playing in the Digital Space, says it all starts with the brain.

“During an online or WhatsApp conversation, a part of the brain is activated that makes you forget that you are actually talking to another person.”

According to Cockcroft, good manners and empathy easily fall by the wayside online.

The disinhibition effect also causes people – teenagers and adults – to not maintain normal boundaries. “Sometimes parents show me messages from bullies, and when you meet the child, you can’t believe he or she wrote that message.”

This psychological phenomenon is also the reason why teenagers are the ideal prey for online bullies and criminals.

When a teenager is asked to share a nude photo, for example, it is so much easier not to think about the consequences, because the conversation doesn’t feel real.

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Nothing gained

Cockcroft believes children under 13 should not have smartphones and she supports a social media ban for everyone under 16. This rule also applies to her own children.

“We shouldn’t just ask what harm it can cause, but also whether there are any benefits to it.”

She is adamant that smartphones and unlimited internet access are anything but harmless entertainment.

“Children are losing time, they are losing academically, they are losing the chance to socialise . . . There is so much to lose, and there is absolutely nothing to gain.”

She also points out the highly addictive nature of social media, saying even adults struggle with it.

“Why would you then expose someone with an immature prefrontal cortex to the world’s best software developers who are paid six-figure salaries to make social media as addictive as possible?”

Cockcroft believes it’s only a matter of time before more countries introduce social media age restrictions.

She believes the court case that Meta (formerly Facebook) recently lost in the US is raising greater awareness, because of the addictive nature.

“Our brains are being hijacked by social media, and the impact on children is massive. It causes anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation . . . and all of this leads to suicidal thoughts.”

According to Cockcroft, the largest group at risk for suicide in South Africa is currently children aged between 11 and 16 years old.

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Hidden harm

Cockcroft says statistics on this are scarce in South Africa, but says she dealt with five cases in Gqeberha in a matter of a year. “Four were teenagers of about 13, 14. The fifth person – a well-known businessman – took his own life as a result.”

Unfortunately such complaints are easily swept under the rug by social media platforms, says Cockcroft.

She has also dealt with children as young as 13 who are addicted to digital pornography.

Cockcroft emphasises the importance of conversations between parents and teenagers about online safety, and says parents should know what their children are doing on their cellphones at all times.

There is software that you can install on your child’s phone that will help with this.

Cockcroft recommends Bark Parental Controls. This software, which can be embedded on a child’s phone so it can’t be easily removed, uses artificial intelligence to monitor where your child is online.

It also monitors conversations on platforms like WhatsApp, Snapchat and social media for terms that may seem innocent to parents, but actually indicate sexual or explicit activities. “It then alerts you as a parent and sends you a ‘warning.’”

Bark even interprets suggestive emojis.

“You can also block certain websites and internet searches, and for example, prevent your child from accessing websites where you can create chatbot companions.”

Access to online games and the amount of time a child spends online can also be controlled by a parent. “Once the allowed screen time is over, the phone basically becomes a brick.”

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Concerned about your child’s online safety?

Esteé Cockcroft can help. Visit www.screensmarts.co.za or email her on info@screensmarts.co.za. She also visits schools countrywide to talk to children about this important topic.

Cockcroft also shares her knowledge in the book Screen Smart: A Guide to Safe Play in the Digital Space. Written in a way that will resonate with children, it is also a handy resource for parents on this important topic. It is published by LAPA.

SOURCE: Die Papier