With reference to Kailin Daniels’ column “Will we ever be offline again?” (TygerBurger 5 March), I do hope that every parent and educator will take notice of her message.
Electronic media about which we were excited 25 years ago has turned out to be one of the scourges of humanity: it destroys one of the characteristics of being truly human – the ability to forge and to maintain meaningful relationships.
Virtual friends and conversations can never be substitutes for real life friendships and real people saying to each other “I love you”; “Thank you for understanding”; “What do you mean?”; “I am sad and hurting”; “I am excited”.
“Gaming console” addiction has become a pernicious problem and one of the most difficult to get out of.
Countless studies have come to the same conclusion: undisciplined use of these media is so detrimental to mental and emotional development of children that in many countries the use of cell phones and tablets has been forbidden in schools.
According to media reports at least one school in Western Cape has taken the bold step to do the same.
May all schools follow.
