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| Format: | Recurso digital |
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Zenodo
2020
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18298834 |
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Table of Contents:
- <p>Schools in 165 countries around the world have closed due to the Coronavirus outbreak, according to <br>UNESCO. We know that maintaining close friendships reduces stress and help children navigate <br>difficult developmental experiences, but with so many children now unable to socialize freely, children <br>are spending more time online to maintain these vital relationships. The sudden shift to online <br>education has meant that a nine-year-old student - Sunidhi has been given a smartphone “way ahead of <br>schedule” – as her parent explained – mainly to attend LIVE ONLINE classes and also to help her to <br>keep in touch with friends on WhatsApp and Facebook. These indeed are trying times for the children, <br>for their education, their online safety and mental health. These are difficult times even for the parents <br>and teachers, as they have to keep themselves safe and healthy (physically and mentally) while also <br>caring for their children in a situation of health pandemic. This is a task which most of them have not <br>done before. They are facing a situation to which they have never been exposed before. And to make <br>the matters worse, even the solution providers – the experts in the domain of cyber safety and mental <br>health are very few in number and most of these experts too are facing new situations. These experts <br>too do not have readymade solutions as the problems are new and the nature and type of problems are <br>changing by the day. This paper discusses the usage of the Internet for studies and to what extent it has <br>a role in causing any behavioural disorder/addiction. The research based evidences indicate the <br>following – Supplemented by finding from qualitative research, it was found that when the Internet is <br>used mostly for Studies and in a structured manner, it does not lead to an uncontrolled and/or excessive <br>use. There is no reported instance of causing “Tolerance” or “Withdrawal” or “Mood Modification or <br>“Conflict” when Internet is used for Studies and Teaching-Learning. Unstructured use of the Internet <br>can make them more vulnerable to gaming addiction, sexual exploitation, bullying, and internet <br>addiction. Not all children are aware of the risks involved in online platforms and don’t have the <br>required skills and knowledge to safeguard themselves. To prevent it, parents and children can work <br>together construct rules for when, where, and how to use the internet. The most important thing is that <br>parents should also practise what they preach.</p>