Two Rivers Police Department
This weeks social media safety tip from Officer Klumpyan, our middle school SRO, is geared toward all those parents out there struggling with the idea of a smartphone for their child. Thank you Officer Klumpyan for sharing!
"Yes, yes they will be left out."
If you delay smartphones and refuse social media until a time when their brains are more equipped to handle it, they will 100% get left out.
Left out of dangerous Tik Tok trends.
Left out of Instagram drama.
Left out of Snapchat nude pics.
Left out of comparison and body image traps.
Left out of knowing what every friend is doing without them.
Left out of mindless scrolling.
Left out of living online.
Left out of pornsites.
Left out of addictive gaming.
Left out of burning bridges.
Left out of inappropriate conversations.
Left out of incessant bullying.
Left out of possible predators.
Left out of sleepless nights.
Left out of MA shows.
Left out of explicit lyrics.
Left out of endless distractions.
Yes, they are going to be left out.
And probably left out of some friend groups and cool crowds and middle school romances and meet ups and funny memes and weekend parties.
It's a bummer but I'll take it.
And I'm not naive enough to think that holding off on a phone, internet or social media takes away all the junk. Of course it won't.
But it also doesn't open the door and usher it in with silent blessing.
Being left out is a small price to pay for a fighting chance at becoming the person they were meant to be in this crazy mixed up world.
And if more parents would choose this path, it would be a little less lonely.
Heck, maybe even be cool.
But even if it never is, I am 100% positive that I will stand my ground.
Because there are far worse things than being left out.
Parents,
-Delay the smartphone until at least 8th grade
-Get a basic phone if you need to get in touch before then.
-Dont give a fully loaded smartphone when you do permit. Start slowly, take off the internet browser, games and access to the App Store. Put time and place restrictions in place via parental controls.
"You've got this parents! "
This post is credited to the Facebook page "Wait until 8th".
Follow them on Facebook for excellent resources and advice!
Officer Klumpyan
