With four teens slap bang in the middle of the electronic age we couldn’t help but be affected by the internet at home. Because of the freedom of speech amendment in America we householders and watch-dog parents had to purchase all kinds of parental control programmes to protect our children from being exposed to unwholesome sites. Since we were addressing our children’s safety I always felt it was unfair to be penalised for doing the right thing while raising the world’s future. Ensuring our teens were safe online became an overwhelming and thankless task.
Had we known then what we know now we would have declared our house “unplugged.”
As Mama Viv and El Ray Mac we will be WiFi-less; there is nothing on the internet worth risking the mental and physical health of a child.
Last Monday evening a fifteen year old girl threw herself in front of a fast train to Broadstairs at our local station, Beckenham Junction. There are flowers, notes and photographs lining the entranceway to the platform. The story they tell is a tragic one. The young teen was a talented dancer, popular and beautiful who brought joy to those who knew her.
In a statement for the The Huffington Post her parents said,
“However, during a period of stress brought on by the pressures of conforming to her peer group and studying hard for GCSE exams (college entrance), it appears she was, unfortunately, heavily influenced by websites and online communities promoting self-harm and suicide.
“We hope her tragic death serves as a warning to other impressionable youngsters and their parents that such sites pose grave risks.”
The British Transport Police are not treating the death as suspicious.
In the Mail online a quote from the tormented girl’s blog reads,
“‘This girl just told me to go kill myself. I don’t even know what to do. I’m sitting here crying my eyes out, praying that the people around me will be okay.
‘Praying that I won’t pick up a blade. I just don’t understand how someone could say that, say that to someone who has been planning their suicide for almost 3 weeks.’”
What do you think? Should the responsible parties on these sites be prosecuted?
Should the government ban sites that foster negative thoughts and encourage self harm and suicide?
Should computers and internet access be required at schools? How can parents deal with peer pressure if they do not want their children on-line especially as it is proving to be an increasingly dangerous place?
Will tougher measures jeopardise our freedoms? Are our children’s safety and lives worth the restrictions we may experience?
Well hello there! My name is Vivienne McNeny.
I am an empty nester exploring life as a Boomer…you could say I'm happily Boomering along!
As a homeschooling Mum I have finally quit the job of role model and mentor to my four children. I do what I want to do, eat when I feel like it, enjoy life with my blue eyed cowboy and clean my house once a month or so whether it needs it or not!
In true English form I write about the emergence of my true identity now that I can no longer hide behind my children as their Mum.
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