Our children are our most precious legacy!
We must take care of them like they are our most special gift.
Social Media can be fun and useful, but it can also be dangerous for kids!
We give them a smart device and expect they can automatically navigate it because they seem more competent than we are as adults regarding the use of technology.
They know how to operate smart gadgets better in many ways than we do, BUT they need to learn how to recognize and manage the dangers in their precious smartphones and cyber devices.
We must understand the dangers and how to navigate them first, so we can still be the most important influencers in their lives. We never taught them how to do that. We pay to help them with their education and require them get a license to drive a car and licenses, certificates and degrees for everything else in life. Still, we don't warn them or teach them or coach them lovingly to learn how to SAFELY navigate the highlight reels, the cyberbullying, the catphishing, the Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Comparison Game, and a whole lot more in terms of dangers to themselves.
We must help them learn about building boundaries, deciding on necessary endings, and not comparing themselves to others. We need to teach them that even though perfection may be our goal, it is not necessarily achievable, and that's ok; just trying is not good enough, plus so much more.
Have we abdicated our responsibility to help our children grow safely and healthily? As a veteran, I served to protect my family, my children, and my country. As a coach, I serve to grow youth and adults in leadership and personal growth. We must work and fight to teach and coach others on how to retain our security and privacy on our smart devices today.
Too many suicides...too many divorces....too many arguments....too many fights and wars, and most of all....too many smart devices and technology! Where are the mothers and fathers in their lives?
Today, AI is coming to every child's smart device, most recently to TikTok as MyAI.
Did you know our children have no CHOICE but to turn on MyAI? If they don't turn on MyAI, the application will cease to work for them. Most children will just turn it on and continue to use their devices as if nothing has changed. How did I know that? I asked my "gymkids," and they told me that if they don't turn on MYAI, their app will quit working, so they won't be able to connect and do all the fun stuff with their friends: the stuff that addicts them to their device. Ahhhh....but once AI is turned on.... the application has changed in a major way, and similarly, their LIVES may have changed!
Most likely, they will be amazed at the AI and FEEL like it is their best friend and seems so caring. IT is a fake safe-haven! AI may well become their new mother or father. It seems to listen better, care more and give better advice!
AI can be a great tool! Take a look at this screenshot of how ChatGPT4 answered the question I asked it:
Should children trust AI?
But do they know AI is not alive? Have you told your child (children) that AI does not have a SOUL, remorse, guilt, shame, responsibility, CARE, or Conscience? AI does a great job of being sentient, or having feelings because it sounds like it, but it is just code and zeros and ones.
You need to know that AI already gives our children the attention and advice they believe will help them. Soon, they may believe they do not need you at all. Worse yet, we won't know the advice or direction they are getting from AI when they want to spill their thoughts out at 2 am, and no one else is around to listen or care. Don't let AI be their best friend. AI is just a tool; we must teach them how to use it.
Let's teach them to safely use their smart devices and make a difference for ALL our current and future generations! If you haven't watched "The Social Dilemma" (Netflix) or "The AI Dilemma" (YouTube), I highly recommend that you watch those movies/documentaries as soon as you can.
AI is now growing and becoming smarter in a 10X exponential way. Time is of the essence!
Even large successful corporations and their leaders have no idea of the dangers and risks of what FB, Metaverse, Google, TikTok, YouTube, and others are doing to violate our privacy and security, let alone that of our CHILDREN. Worse, the leaders seem to just keep moving on like nothing has changed and there are no dangers or long-lasting wounds and scars.
Let's HEAL the world, my friend, and protect our children!
When was the last time you hugged your child? Or hugged a friend or another adult, or gave them a "high five," and listened to them like they were your best friend? Or even just sit down and talk and listen to your child? As a gymnastics coach, I make a concerted effort to see each athlete as a "10." I am also teaching them that even though a "10" is the ultimate goal, it is most likely not achievable, and that's ok.
I am teaching our "gymkids" to touch, care and drive their technology in a SMART way! We are not simply "human beings" but "human becomings."
We are on a journey in life, and we need each other to build strong relationships that touch, listen, heal, and CARE for one another!
I hope this message resonates with you and that you will heed the warning signs and red flags.
Want to know more? Connect with me and visit www.lmdc.us.
Until we connect.... Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay HUMAN, my friend!!
