Controlling

For a long time, conventional wisdom held that the more you tried to deny someone of a thing, the more they wanted the thing. This is especially true for children and teens. Even if they don't like a certain kind of cookie, if you tell them they can't have it, they'll want it more than ever before.

Actually, I'm pretty sure this is still true. People just keep forgetting it.

Case in point, there is a new trend with parents for them to COMMIT to deprive their children/teens of phone time. No phone at night or no phone on the weekends or no phone during one day. 

This will backfire. 

This is just going to make those kids/teens want their phones more. It's just going to make them prioritize the phone as SO IMPORTANT. It's stupid and it's controlling and it's bad parenting. 

If you don't want your kids talking to pedos or scammers, teach your kids about pedos and scammers. Teach them how these people operate and the ways they try to draw people in. 

It's more work, and yes it means really taking a hard look at the religious and political influencers in your own life who might be using those same techniques, but that is a good idea as well.

Whenever I see stuff like this, I think about how many kids out there are only getting through their day because they have some bright points online. They have a place to really shine and be who they really are.

Oh but wait. They want to snuff out that too, don't they?