Digital parenting

Parenting in the digital age is very different than it was in the past mainly because teenagers today have smartphones, social media, AI and the internet at their fingertips. And while technology has many benefits, it is increasingly the source of the problem and anxiety. 

Even so, experts say the solution is not to prohibit or fear technology, but rather to guide the young minds to make the best of it.

The internet is full of unique opportunities to learn, grow, and express themselves, from online education to exploring their hobbies. However, teenagers can and are facing dangers online including, but not limited to, cyberbullying, harmful content, and screen addiction, especially without guidance.

A recent statistics by US-based PEW Research Center states that about 60% of teens report social media use daily, and of them 30% said that they frequently see content that makes them feel anxious or sad. These figures indicate how strongly the internet influences teen mental health.

Nepal is no exception, as teenagers increasingly use social media apps like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. More than ever, parents need to make an effort to stay in the picture, and play an essential role in helping their children navigate the online spaces. 

TikTok recently introduced its Family Pairing feature in Nepal. This lets parents connect their TikTok accounts with their children’s account. Parents can set daily screen time limits, control who can message their child, and even limit the exposure to adult content.

TikTok is offering more than 15 customisable safety, privacy, and well-being features for parents to have greater control and transparency while helping teens build healthier digital habits. These safety features aim to create a healthy digital environment for teens and promote responsible use.

TikTok’s Youth Safety Report released in August 2024 revels that it removed over 166 million videos for violating Community Guidelines, with 95.3% taken down before any user reported them. TikTok has also been running educational campaigns like #DigitalWellbeing, and reminding users to take breaks or reconsider what they are exposed to.

Back in November 2023, Nepal government banned TikTok, citing concerns about the app's ‘negative impact on social harmony’. While rights activists feared creeping control over the press, the ban was lifted in August of 2024. As of now, TikTok remains the only of the giant social media apps to have officially registered in Nepal, and also having the youth safety feature.

Various institutions in Nepal, government and private, have also taken steps to address the challenges of digital parenting. Digital literacy campaigns, like CyberSmart Nepal, as well as programs run by ChildSafeNet have started educating parents and children about online safety. The Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has begun making efforts at the school and local level to raise awareness of safe internet usage.

But more importantly, parents must communicate regularly and openly with their children. They should ask their children what they do online, what content they enjoy, who they follow, and if anything that they have seen online makes them uncomfortable. Parents need to reinforce trust and help bolster their child's self-esteem.

Above all, parenting in the digital age means learning together. And with tools like TikTok’s Family Pairing, local digital safety efforts, and strong parent-teen communication, children and teenagers can navigate the internet in a safe, smart, and positive way.