Ask HN: How do you prevent the impact of social media on your children?

-Social media etc. are a means of avoiding one's emotions. Your job as a parent is to help your children process those so that they don't crave such distractions as much.

-Education is key. This is a huge topic, but one of the first things I taught my preschooler is that people do all kinds of things only because they want money. That is equally true in meatspace, as e.g. this enclosed playground we occasionally go to is dotted with shelves with toys that are, of course, not free, so if you want one you have to pay. I lost count how many things I explained with a short "they do it only because it brings them more money".

-It so happens that the worst brainrot is at the same time data-intensive, so data allowance is something I'm planning on introducing once the time comes. I sort of had this in my youth when my data plan was a whopping 1GB per month, so I had to be deliberate in my choice of entertainment.

As a final, optimistic note, it appears that generation alfa picked up on the fact that we, the parents, either try to distract them with screens or look at screens instead of paying attention to them. They don't like that one bit and my prediction is that their attitude towards this will be very much like my generation's towards our parents having the TV on at all times.

5. Teach them impulse control and practice delayed gratification.

Kids have been angry at their parents for parenting decisions since time immemorial. I don't think it's actually a big deal.

This brings computers into the classroom, and once they’re available, it is a slippery slope. It is easier for teachers to have students use semi-gamified "educational" apps rather than engage themselves.

Example for K-2 - https://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/csstandards.pdf:

  K-2.CS.1 Select and operate computing devices that perform a variety of tasks accurately and quickly based on user needs and preferences.

  K-2.CS.2 Explain the functions of common hardware and software components of computing systems.

  K-2.CS.3 Describe basic hardware and software problems using accurate terminology.

  K-2.NI.4 Model and describe how people connect to other people, places, information and ideas through a network.

  ...

  K–2 K-2.AP.12 Create programs with sequences of commands and simple loops, to express ideas or address a problem

  K-2.IC.20 Describe approaches and rationales for keeping login information private, and for logging off of devices appropriately

I’ve set up various network level controls via Pi-hole and opendns family shorties (obviously this is mostly dns based). YouTube and all the search engines are set to in strict mode.

The devices we have also have various restrictions on them. Kindle kids edition has been great- lots of options for games and videos but limited ability to get into stuff they shouldn’t. We also have iPads now, with the suite of family controls applied.

Our lives are complex enough that our kids have Apple Watches now, again with parent controls in place. It’s a good compromise- they can chat with thier friends in sms, but not the stuff that pushes content on you.

It’s not perfect, but we plan on not getting smart phones or allowing normal social media until like age 18