TikTok’s new ‘For You’ calendar is the symptom, not the cure
By Lead Adventurer, Paul Wilcox.
As a dad of three, we’ve already had our fair share of battles over what constitutes appropriate screen time. It often feels like our kids find a way to get around every barrier we put in place to protect them. And that, according to them, we’re the strictest parents in the world.
So, when a platform as established as TikTok introduces a tool designed to help families regulate how its own platform is used, it is worth stopping to consider what this really tells us about how far we’ve come.
TikTok’s new ‘For You’ calendar is a physical weekly planner designed to help families come together, offline, and connect.
To me, this calendar template is an acknowledgement that children’s lives are now dominated by screens, and that many families are struggling to create the time to connect outside of the increasingly prevalent world of technology.
TikTok say: “This physical weekly planner is a space designed for families to connect each week to plan, reflect, and have open conversations about how they spend their time both online and offline.
“It gives parents and teens a simple way to talk about building balanced digital habits.”
This comes as Australia are beginning to collate positive feedback from young people about the recent social media ban for under 16’s, and UK politicians are increasingly open to the idea.
The conversation is steadily gaining traction in the UK, as senior politicians are expressing a greater openness to stronger age restrictions, a topic which was once seen as excessive and is now being discussed as a serious policy option.
At We Are Adventurers, we work closely with schools and see first-hand the positive impact that technology can have on education. However, when overused or misused at home, it can have a detrimental effect on a child’s development.
Alongside this, we see the powerful role that outdoor education plays in supporting childhood development. We regularly see how time outdoors boosts confidence, encourages teamwork, and helps children reconnect with their surroundings while learning through real-world experiences.
Studies reveal that just 6 minutes in nature can significantly boost serotonin levels and improve mental health. When you compare this to the harmful effects that social media can have on a child’s mental wellbeing, the importance of encouraging healthier habits becomes blindingly clear.
Time outdoors also presents a great opportunity for families to connect. Parents can engage with their children through creative and adventurous activities in local green spaces, or even from the comfort of their own gardens.
With one in five children spending over 7 hours a day online, this change needs to happen now. Action must be taken before the overuse of technology and social media becomes an irreversible part of childhood.
By regulating and limiting screen time early on, parents can reduce the need for more drastic measures to control tech and social media use, such as TikTok’s ‘For You’ calendar.
To take wider action, visit this link to email your MP about raising the social media age to 16: https://smartphonefreechildhood.eaction.org.uk/raise-the-age
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