Cavete Liberi

“Cavete Liberi” which literally means “Children Beware” sounds very sad because it touches, in fact, pierces the very core of our responsibility as adults, as parents, most especially, as mothers.

Yes!!! CAVETE LIBERI because our children are now in an abyss, a labyrinth of confusion brought about by the new times….. advances in technology, and, number one in the list of ingredients to the moral decadence of the young is the very strong influence of media. Media supposedly, a strong weapon for providing us with the truth, are ironically the providers of misinformation.

Used with moral responsibility and ethical standards, Social media and technology could be a very effective tool to accord us unique convenience and unparalleled connectivity, as, we can:

• easily and conveniently join societal activities like community projects that could impact lives
• at the tip of our fingers enhance learning and development of competencies
• have instant access to information, and, most importantly, stay connected with family, friends and loved ones.

Parents and teachers could catalyze the promotion of positive social media, specifically counterbalancing the disastrous effects of harmful media content and cyberbullying. We, the adults, parents, teachers and members of catholic organizations should cultivate in the minds of the young that whenever they encounter negative social media, and, they are the crossroads of deciding and discerning . . . we are here to help them.

But the harsh reality is, the prevalence of social media that is invading young minds and sending wrong messages that corrode values and virtues. The painful truth is, our young spend most of their time scanning their cellphones or browsing the internet. Sans ethical standards, irresponsible social media permeates, posing several dangers to youth, including mental health issues like anxiety and depression, exposure to cyberbullying, and the risk of online predators. Additionally, it can adversely impact sleep, academic performance, and social interactions. Why? Here’s why :

Anxiety and Depression – spending excessive time on social media, particularly more than three hours a day contributes to increased rates of anxiety and depression among youth.

Low Self-Esteem and Body Image Issues – overemphasis on looking good, brainwashing our youth through “beautified” images can lead to insecurities, pessimistic self-comparison and physical frustration ( “I do not like how I look” ) negatively affecting self-worth.

Cyberbullying – social media platforms are actually nests of cyberbullying, ultimately breeding severe consequences for mental health, including depression and suicidal thoughts.

Sleep Disruption – seemingly harmless blue light emitted from screens during prolonged scrolling at nights can interfere with sleep patterns, resulting to sleep deprivation, which is detrimental to both physical and mental development.

Reduced Physical Activity – instead of spending time outdoors doing healthy lifestyle activities, our youth prefer to indulge in social media which aggravates health problems like obesity.

Exposure to Harmful Content – young minds voracious for new ideas are like sponge easily absorbing inappropriate content like : violence, lewdness, and, vulgar sexual innuendos.

Online Predators – predators like vultures, abuse social media platforms to inveigle, lure and exploit young people, seriously drowning our attempts to impart online safety to our children.

Social Exclusion and Seclusion – social media which could have been an effective tool for healthy interactions, if excessively used, will now lead to an unhealthy isolated, solitary life, because healthy interface is replaced by online interaction. Sadly, our children and grandchildren do not even know outdoor games as they spend free time on their cellphones, laptops and tablets.

Academic Performance – our youth will unhealthily and excessively indulge in social media, distracting them from schoolwork, adversely affecting academic performance resulting to lower grades. They are lazy to read and do research work the normal way, they just google, and, ironically speaking from experience, mental retention is directly proportionate to how fast we can obtain information the “Google way”.

“We don’t have a choice on whether we DO social media, the question is how well we DO it.” – Eerik Qualman (American author of Socialnomics, Digital Leader, What Happens in Vegas Stays on YouTube, and The Focus Project).

Is there hope ? Yes, there is !… if and only if, we the adults, do our part.

“Our children are our only hope for the future, but, WE are their only hope for their present and their future.” – Zig Ziglar (born Hilary Hinton Ziglar (1926-2012), was a renowned American author, motivational speaker, and salesman)

“To mitigate the negative impacts of social media on youth, strategies include setting screen time limits, encouraging offline activities, promoting positive online interactions, and fostering open communication. Additionally, educating youth about online safety, cyberbullying, and the importance of critical thinking is crucial.

1. Setting Boundaries and Promoting Balance:

• Establish screen time limits: Help youth understand healthy limits for social media use and encourage breaks from screens.
• Designate tech-free zones: Create spaces like bedrooms or the dining table where devices are not allowed to encourage face-to-face interaction.
• Encourage offline activities: Promote hobbies, sports, and other interests that don’t involve screens.
• Prioritize real-life connections: Encourage in-person interactions with friends and family.

2. Fostering Healthy Online Habits:

• Curate social media feeds:
  Help youth choose accounts that promote positive content and unfollow or mute those that cause negativity or anxiety.
• Promote positive online behavior:
  Encourage kindness, empathy, and respectful communication in online interactions.
• Educate about online safety:
  Teach youth about cyberbullying, online safety settings, and how to report harmful content.
• Teach critical thinking:
  Encourage youth to evaluate the information they see online and be aware of potential misinformation
• Be mindful of notifications:
  Suggest turning off notifications to reduce distractions and prevent compulsive checking.
• Use social media consciously:
  Encourage teens to use social media purposefully, rather than just scrolling endlessly.

3. Open Communication and Support:

• Have open and honest conversations:
  Talk to youth about their social media experiences, both positive and negative.
• Monitor social media activity:
  Engage with their online world and show interest in what they’re doing, without being intrusive.
• Seek professional help:
  If social media is significantly impacting a teen’s mental health, encourage them to talk to a healthcare professional or counselor.
• Model healthy behavior:
  Parents should also be mindful of their own social media use and model positive digital habits.
• Join movements for healthy social media design:
  Support organizations and initiatives that advocate for positive online environments.” (SOURCE : King University Online)

(Ma. Cynthia P. Aranas – Vice Regent, Co-Chair, Committee on Morality in Media, Daughters of Mary Immaculate International – Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Circle)