Some may find this topic as an attempt to fight a lost battle, but despite that, I believe this issue needs to be addressed. Even it saves one child, it’s worth it.
I couldn’t help but notice the approximately 14 year-old Bochur near me in Shul this week holding a large-screen phone, and another boy with a phone he told his friends he received from his father after the service on it was cancelled.
Are parents really that naive today? Are they really unaware how easy it is for the most non-technologically-advanced kid to connect to a network today – for free?
I’d venture to say that giving your child an internet-capable device – whether it be an old iPhone, iPod Touch or similar – is no different than sending your child to Yeshiva with a loaded gun. All it takes is a couple minutes during recess time for the curious boy or Bachur, and his friends, to find the worst of the worst available on the web, all because one naive parent thought his child was pretty convincing when he asked to keep his old phone to use for games.
Parents, don’t be fooled. These devices, although disconnected from a service provider, are simply put – a dangerous weapon. The damage that could be done in an hour in school, can last for months, years, or even a lifetime.
Thank you,
B.K.
Lakewood, NJ.
(TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to [email protected])
I am normally more left leaning and don’t always agreewith such articles however as some one in who is in the technology field this is 100% true. It’s getting easier and easier for kids to get access to all the smut in the world. They don’t even need the internet. If a friend has it downloaded it’s real simple to share.
Because dirty magazines and intellectually stimulating scientific information were not available before the internet… Education is key, not banning.
What a ridiculous letter/comparison. The point that kids should not have devices with internet access may or may not be a good one but anyone who would seriously equate it with a loaded gun is mentally deficient.
If you would rather that your kid look at inappropriate content then your kid be dead you don’t really think this and frankly regarding “apikorsis” if your Hashkafa and ideals cannot survive in a free market of ideas they aren’t worth very much at all.
Lmaan hashem
That was from the most stupid comment I’ve seen here. Being available and giving it to him – can’t see the difference??
Since you brought up loaded gun lets make an apples to apples comparison. if a childs parent has guns and instead of hiding it from his children he trains them in their responsible use then that child with a loaded is no danger to himself or others. now the same thing apply here if you have healthy children and dont bring them up in a box it wont even cross their minds to go looking for bad stuff. its when you deprive your children of technology thats when they go out looking for it on their own and that when they will go on a wild rampage to find and look at everything they can
It amazes me how parents are willing to put their heads in the sand. I have seen firsthand how children are intensely and negatively impacted by technology. As much as we want to believe that our home is our greatest safety net, although of course it is definitely a good weapon, I have dealt with bochurim whom due to some “nice” friend have been exposed and suffered severe addiction. Once someone is addicted it is a lifetime struggle. Boruch Hashem we have been successful with those who have worked hard to free themselves, but it is no easy matter. One bochur mentioned upon success that it was like a rock was taken off his neck. Wise up! We need to help protect our children. Yes, with this crazy world, a strong home is essential, but not enough. Keep that technology away! Our children have lost the ability to think and are not able to express their thoughts eloquently because everyone, including parents, are busy with their phones, computers etc. and do not initiate normal conversations. What happened to good old fashioned reading? With so much going on, children have forgotten the joy of reading.
From an educator who unfortunately has seen too much and is greatly pained.
DoGo, I see you lack reading comprehension. Read my entire comment. Notice the part that says education is key. The Internet is a tool that children can be taught to use responsibly.
StageQ, couldn’t agree with you more.
You can educate from today to tomorrow. The yetzer horah is good at what he does. All you need is one moment of weekeness..
Mamy post-seminary girls getting these devices for and from “work”, are being totally destroyed. 18 years of bais yakov education, in the garbage in just weeks.
I hope that everyone agrees that protection and education/responsible consumption are both important. Each parent/educator needs to decide for each child/situation what is best, and what may be responsible technology consumption for one child’s (or adult’s) neshama may be poisonous for another. I believe the author sought to make the public aware of two points: 1- That huge risks exist even with a disconnected smart-device. 2- With certain electronic devices, one child can easily destroy another child.
Lmaan Hashem
Your name is deceiving but you are nonetheless blind. HANDING them these devices versus having to GO to a store and pick up the filthy magazines is a major difference. Not seeing that difference is being foolish and blind on your part. Education is key AFTER ensuring this stuff is not readily available to them in their HANDS and POCKETS. Once you have done that you can educate to PREVENT them from being interested in the dirt of the world. If it is in their hands, you can educate all you want, you may be wasting your time. I fear for your child.
Giving our young 18 year olds the keys to the car is probably even more dangerous. They can crash, kill people. They can also drive to the worst, shmutzy, places in the world. And they may actually run a red light.
So, don’t teach your kids how to drive. Oh no, not at all. Keep ’em sheltered. Don’t even let them know there is such a thing as a car. One moment of weakness……..
Chaim says: “18 years of bais yakov education, in the garbage in just weeks.”
The education must not be worth anything. Parents and educators should be educating their children with consistency to be thinking people, not people who do things “because we said so.”
To Lma’an Hashem you sound foolish and immature.
Not even worth a comment. Grow up
To Lma’an Hashem
Sounds like your in denial, you must have the addiction.
The phones can be controlled by the parents with filters and the provider. You can also monitor their texts, phone calls and sites visited. If your child gets a phone on their own with their own account and billing there’s pretty much nothing you can do but pray.
P.S. There are ways to disable internet access completely on a phone without a provider. You have to get the phone into the hands of a person who can do this.
B.K. – good letter, bad venue. Most ppl on this site have basic knowledge of computers and wifi. They know what a phone can access. You gotta warn the ppl who dont use the internet at all. You should hang up signs in shul & maybe write in to a newspaper. Or Three. Hatzlocha !!
Ronald there are organizations that disable the wifi. They do for free
TO AF YOU ARE THE APIKORAS BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT YOU BELIEVE ONLY IN OLAM HAZEH AND NOT IN OLAM HABAAH.GO TELL THAT TO THE REBONO SHEL OLAM WHEN YOU GET THERE.
Admirer,
So answer my question:
Would you rather your child die then look at an innapropriate picture?