Digital and Emotional Monitoring: Tech Support For Families | Janell Burley Hofmann | 2 Min Read

Digital and Emotional Monitoring: Tech Support For Families | Janell Burley Hofmann | 2 Min Read

One of the most common questions I get in my work as a speaker and consultant on digital health and well-being is about digital monitoring. Should we monitor? Which platforms or tools are best? What if we choose not to monitor our teens’ screens? The question of monitoring is deeply personal. Every child is different and may need different levels of support and intervention with their screens. I encourage families to get to know parental controls, filters, and digital supports that exist. Spend time vetting them and seeing if and how they can work to support your family. But what is more important to me than monitoring is that we’re not using blocks and controls to replace our parenting. 

One of my favorite sayings that I once saw hanging on a sign in a public library is, “There’s No App To Replace Your Lap”. This reminds me that our humanness is what our kids and teens need most of all and we cannot outsource our parenting. We still need to be focused on the relationship, the digital citizenship education of the child and be engaged in conversations about experiences, mistakes, and expectations online. However, digital monitoring can support our parenting efforts and be a tool for healthy use based on each family’s needs and values. 

The most common ways to get to know options that exist for families include connecting with your device and Internet service provider to purchase monitoring support through them or shopping for private software companies that have developed parental controls. Additionally engaging with the game, social media, and other platforms for parental educational services can be a great resource. There are tools that range from mirroring or monitoring every keystroke to tech turn-off times, screen time management, and other filters and blocks. Additionally, using your community to ask for advice, see what has worked for them, or trial and error are great steps as needed. 

In addition to parental controls, here are some low risk prompts to emotionally monitor — especially during intense social and cultural times like these:

  • Who did you play online with today? How far did you make it in your game?
  • Did you see any news or stories you’re still thinking about today? Is there anything you want to talk about?
  • How are your (specific) friends doing? Is anyone celebrating anything fun? Any challenges they’re sharing online? 
  • Tell me about…
THIS IS PREMIUM CONTENT FOR REGISTERED USERS
Register Now
OR
You may use your member school or partner discount code !!!

Pop-Up

This is an example pop-up that you can make using jQuery.

Janell Burley Hofmann

Janell Burley Hofmann is an international author, speaker and consultant specializing on the topics of technology, media, health, relationships and well-being. Janell is the creator of the original iPhone contract and a thought leader in the space of digital mindfulness, digital parenting and intentional use of tech. She is the author of the book, iRules: What Every Tech-Healthy Family Needs to Know About Selfies, Sexting, Gaming and Growing Up published by Rodale, Inc. Janell is the founder of the Slow Tech Movement and iRules Academy. Janell has worked on four continents across diverse demographics, cultures, religions, and socioeconomics. Sensitive to the needs of each community, Janell works with schools, youth, families, educators, and organizations while offering private coaching and consulting sessions. Janell’s professional expertise and personal experience as a mother of five children builds strong connections with a wide and varied population. Janell engages readers, clients and audiences in relevant and meaningful conversations igniting personal empowerment, awareness and purpose in a partnership that will positively impact all. Janell’s academic background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media Studies, a Master’s Degree in Critical and Creative Thinking and she is currently working towards her licensure in mental health counseling. Her featured talks include two-time TEDx presenter, SxSW, YPO Southeast Asia Summit, Peace Corp Workshop Leader, Homecoming Day Nagoya University, Nagoya Japan, YPO Middle East Tour, Women2Women International Summit and MIT Strata Center. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Good Morning America, USA Today, National Public Radio, BBC News and The Associated Press.