While writing, I face many questions which force me outside of my comfort zone.
For example, I had to decide on the details a parent shares with a child. My answer was a surprising one, everything.
If it is something I am ashamed to share with a piece of me, it meant that I shouldn’t have done it in the first place; it meant regret. I am not a fan of regret.
I am also a firm believer in learning from others’ mistakes. I don’t have to repeat a mistake to learn a lesson; I can make my own unique mistakes. Kids should build their own or continue building along with their families. Either way, it is their right to choose, and it is the parent’s job to prepare them for the world.
With that mindset, I approach writing.
In doing so, I unintentionally shocked some of the readers who don’t share similar beliefs. They told me it was unrealistic for any parent to do so. “All parents lie and hide things from their kids.” They said. “Parents do it to protect the kids.” They insisted.
However, books, movies, and music albums come with ratings and warning labels.
Protecting the Kids
We go to great lengths to protect our most precious, our families. We established laws, societies, religions, and borders to enjoy the safety and warmth of those bonds. Some are willing to do unthinkable acts for the sake of family and its survival.
We have laws protecting kids from their own families, we have laws protecting kids from consuming unhealthy content. We have ratings for movies and music guiding consumers to appropriate content.
Prior to the internet invasion, parents had an easier task filtering processed content. The methods weren’t bulletproof, but they worked for the majority. Parents had the upper hand in that equation with the backing of governments. There was a collective consensus.
The collective consensus made its way into our daily lives. We agreed to a basic human decency code—if you didn’t want it done to you, don’t do it to others. We understood the differences between the public and private spheres. There is a reason no one walks around the streets or shows up to work naked.
Blurred Lines
The post-internet era brought about significant changes in the way we interact with each other and our surroundings, with the private and public spheres becoming increasingly blurred. The internet created new spaces for public discourse and engagement, while simultaneously facilitating the creation of private spaces that are shielded from public scrutiny. However, this blurring of the public and private spheres also created new challenges. The ease of access to personal information led to concerns about privacy, surveillance, and security. Additionally, the public sphere has become increasingly fragmented, with individuals and groups retreating into their private echo chambers and creating filter bubbles that reinforce existing beliefs and values. While others are using the platforms to publicize their causes and personal needs.
These challenges require thoughtful consideration and action to ensure that the benefits of the post-internet era are balanced with the need for privacy and healthy public discourse.
Traumatic Lines
Are we doing enough to protect ourselves from explicit and traumatic content?
It is easy to say that we are doing so, but we are not. Content creators are paid to shock, attract followers, and increase engagements whichever way they deem appropriate, dancing on those blurred lines. Internet advertising companies are constantly pushing such content to keep our eyeballs on their products. I also know they are not interested in protecting consumers as much as they are in the business of making money.
Circling back to the kids’ issue, I wonder if we are doing enough to protect our children from explicit internet content.
Explicit and traumatic content can have a significant impact on children, both in the short term and the long term. Exposure to violent or sexually explicit content can lead to feelings of fear, anxiety, and confusion, which can disrupt a child’s emotional and cognitive development. It can also increase the risk of aggressive behavior, as children may model what they see. In addition, traumatic content can trigger memories of past traumas or create new ones, which can lead to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues.
Solid Lines
Respecting the public sphere means that individuals must uphold good morals and respect for others. This includes the recognition that others may hold different beliefs and opinions, and that all individuals have the right to express themselves freely. It also means that individuals must be willing to engage in civil discourse and debate, without resorting to violence or intimidation.
In addition to upholding good morals and respect for others, respecting the public sphere also requires an understanding of the role of media and technology in modern society. The internet and social media have created new opportunities for individuals to engage in public discourse, but they have also created new challenges in terms of privacy, security, and misinformation. As a result, individuals must be mindful of the impact that their online behavior has on the broader community and must take steps to ensure that they are engaging in responsible and ethical behavior.
