No Smartphone before 18!

 

No Smartphone before 18!

1. Don’t bring any kinds of device in front of your baby before s/he turns 18 months. Don’t try to make your baby eat, by making them watch TV, Smartphone, Tab, YouTube etc.
2. Educational program can be watched aging 18 months to 2 years, in your presence.
3. Not more than one hour of screen time for children aging 2-5 and teenagers but before 11pm. Ensure that the child isn’t in front of the screen after 11pm, at any cost. Stay away from the devices, yourself, as well, to make an impression on the child.
4. Don’t buy your child a smart phone before s/he turns 18. If there are children at home, keep the smart TV away from them.
5. Create awareness regarding the use of mobile phone in school, so your children don’t get afflicted by virtual virus even from school.
6. Engage them in household chores; encourage them in creative works, making sure they don’t have enough to get addicted to anything.
7. Make sure you know what your children are using the devices for! Whatever gadget they use, whether computer, laptop, smartphone or tab- make sure you can add parental controls and other monitoring features are available, which would help to keep your children safe.
8. If possible, activate child-friendly browsing features. i.e. make sure you children doesn’t enter into any harmful or age inappropriate sites, while surfing. You can also seek help from you ISP (Internet service provider). You can turn off the router at night, if deemed necessary.
9. Make sure your children don’t keep the room locked at all times. Don’t let him be or think he is alone. Teach him to share with his siblings.
10. Provide them with religious teachings as per your own religion.
11. Practice yoga and meditation regularly, with the whole family. Take part in social work and humanitarian activities. This will help your child avert them.
12. Don’t scold your children but motivate them. Be their first and most trusted friend.
13. Spend more time with your children. If you occupy yourself with your phone and TV, then this might make your child resentful and angry; eventually developing mental disorder. Therefore, Stay away from all the digital devices including TV, smart phone, computer, during the time that you spend with the family.
14. Improve real communication and familial bond with your children, parents, siblings, spouse and relatives.
15. Cut lose those companies that pushes you towards the darkness of addiction. Practice the family meditation on every Thursday, with your whole family. Participate in Sadakaion, Alokaion and Enlightened Family program of Quantum Foundation, with your family.
16. Not words but your children follow your actions. If you are addicted to the virtual virus yourself, it wouldn’t be easy to keep your children away from that. Therefore, get rid of your Facebook at first, then make your child stay away from there.

Start with Yourself

Social Media: Safety Measures

• Delete all apps of social media including Facebook and Twitter from you Smartphone. Download it on a desktop or laptop; check from there, whenever deemed necessary. To know how to delete a Facebook account.
• Use only for educational or professional purposes. But at a fixed time of a day.
• Don’t take or share selfies. Avoid taking picture in abnormal poses or gestures that damages your personality or reputation.
• Do not share personal information/pictures or yourself and others.
• Keeping in mind the future of your child, refrain from posting pictures, videos or posts that might damage his/her privacy or reputation in future.
• It is necessary to take permission from the original author, before sharing their posts. You should be posting or sharing any content without the permission and credential of original author.
• For information, choose the official website of the organization instead of social media.
• Avoid sharing any information, pictures or videos with others without ensuring authenticity.
• Avoid writing or encouraging any kind of racism that targets any respective caste, creed, religion or nationality.
• Use social medial for necessity. Do not participate in social provocative statements or political discussions, in the platform.
• Do not take pictures of food and share them and avoid the regularly visiting various restaurants for posting on social media.
• Do not follow someone who’s posts make you depressed or frustrated. Follow only those from whom you can learn good things.
• Do not give like and do not see your likes as well.

To protect from the Harmful Radiation

• Limit your time to 3 minutes while talking on mobile phone. If you can manage it over text then avoid speaking on the phone.
• Prepare a budget for mobile phone expenses at the beginning of the month or week. Specify budget for internet connection as well.
• After talking for once wait for 15 minutes. Stay completely away from the phone in that time.
• Instead of putting the cell phone directly to your ears, use a speaker phone, headset or other hands-free tools while speaking. However, do not use it with a loud volume as that might affect your hearing.
• Try to keep the mobile phone away from the body when it is switched on. Keep 5/6 feet away from your head while sleeping.
• Feature phone’s radio frequency radiation is less than Smartphone’s. Use feature phone if possible.
• Turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and all these services of Smartphone unless you need them. Not just the RF radiation, but you might as well be giving away information about your personal activities to the tech companies.
• Do not use a mobile phone if you have land phone or conventional phone set.
• The doctors and nurses should also aware about the use of phones. The less it is used in the ICU or operation theater, the better.
• Finally, keep children away from mobile phones. We should treat the phone like a bottle of poison, and keep it away from children at all times.

Quitting Virtual Virus Addiction

• Staying up late without any reason, may increase the likelihood of virtual virus addiction. The first step to get rid of this will be to stop using cell phone, tab, computer related gadgets after 11 pm.
• Refrain from viewing the same news more than once in multiple channels.
• TV serial addiction causes familial problems and ruins mental peace.
• Visit YouTube to watch only necessary videos. If you have a YouTube channel of your own, then enter only once a day to reply to comments. Avoid checking, likes, dislikes or views.
• Develop a healthy lifestyle alongside practicing meditation and yoga. This will help you establish inner strength and you’d be able to say ‘NO’ to addictions of all kind.
• Dedicate yourself in the service and welfare of the society, of the humanity. Modern scientific research says that working for the benefit of people and society reduces the feeling of depression and loneliness. It increases confidence and skill.
• Avoid harmful curiosity alongside clicking on perverted advertisements, videos or websites. These would disrupt your mental well-being and self development.

Online Etiquette

• Set a specific time to use the internet; instead of surfing anytime anywhere!
• Use your clear picture on your user ID.
• If you do not have a suitable picture then refrain from using others’ picture.
• Mention the correct source of information in case of writing online.
• Do not look for Wi-Fi password when you visiting a home or a place or in a restaurant. Rather focus on the person in front of you.
• Delete all apps of social media including Facebook and Twitter from you Smartphone. Download it on a desktop or laptop; check from there, whenever deemed necessary. To know how to delete a Facebook account.

Technological Etiquette

• Avoid talking on the cell phone during meeting, conference or class.
• Keep your cell phone in silent mode at religious place, classrooms, meetings, conferences and all this kind of ceremonies.
• Follow the “Etiquette and manners Konica” and “Sweet Words Konica” during phone conversation and private messaging.
• Use good tunes for mobile ringtones, alarms and any kind of reminders
• Take permission from person on the other side, before speaking on the speaker.
• Understand the surrounding before taking a video call.
• Use wrist watch for checking time instead of cell phone.
• Make sure it is not inconvenient to others when you are turn on the radio or music on speaker, in your own car.

Avoid

• Setting personal photo as screen saver and/or wallpaper
• Using others’ phone, e-mail id or any other account without their permission
• During a conversation, using cell phone or receiving a call without the permission of the person
• Using electronic gadgets all the day, closing the doors.
• Recording phone or video call without permission.
• Talking on the phone while driving. It has legal consequences.
• While using others’ pen drives or hard disks, checking their personal files or take them without permission.
• Using corrupted, modified or ‘trendy’ languages and emojis.
• Using TV or fridge at others’ places when you go as a guest, without permission.

When buying Electronic Gadgets.

• Refrain from purchasing electronic gadgets for bragging and boasting, brand names and the latest models.
• Do not turn changing a smartphone phone frequently into a habit.
• Buy devices according to your needs and type of work. Take expert advice if you need. But do not waste your time on searching phones and brands if you don’t need them.
• Do not go for a long chat with anyone about the configuration, design of mobile phones; without any reason.

Be careful about the Risks

• Using headphones or earphone with high volume for a long time, is harmful for health
• Leaning forward, looking at the screen for a long time can cause shoulder ache, back pain and eye problems.
• Avoid using mobile phone while walking or crossing the street.

Online Safety

• Download apps after being confirming its necessity and safety
• Confirm about the terms and services of the popular app before downloading and using them
• In case of transactions or trading, prefer keeping a real document than a virtual one
• Verify the source of information regarding any online content for authenticity, before believing in them
• Set a password of 8 characters or more with both small and capital letters and numbers
• Make sure you have logged out from your account or website, if you had entered them through someone else’s phone, laptop or desktop.
• Avoid monetary transactions with virtual currencies like crypto currency or bit coins. Remember, cheating is awful but being cheated on is disgraceful.

Online Shopping
As online seller

• Avoid giving exaggerated or fake pictures and/or descriptions of products.
• Be aware of customer’s privacy and security. Make sure that the customer does not face any harassment.
• Make sure to deliver the products to customers timely and honestly.

As online shopping buyer.

• Avoid viewing products online if you don’t need them i.e. window shopping. Don’t let the sale or any glamorous appearance of the products deceive you.
• Beware of the frauds. Read and follow the rules of the sites from where you are buying. Investigate on the authenticity and reliability of the seller. Be careful in each and every step from buying, receiving until paying for the product.
• Do not fall prey to the traitors. Check out the reliability of the site and vendor. Be aware of every step in understanding the declares dealing with the seller. Always apply clear judgment.

These Technologies are like Parasites, Living on your Nutrients

Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal

Educationalist, Writer and Professor, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology

The future of yourself, your country and the whole world depends on how you would use your brain, your intelligence. Do you know an astounding conspiracy is going on right now regarding this immensely valuable mysterious brain of yours? I’m pretty sure most of you even have stepped in the trap of this conspiracy, without even knowing it. This conspiracy is known as the Social Network.
As a teacher, I’ve been noticing a sudden weird depletion among the students regarding their behavioral qualities, since 2013-14. Their analytical ability and concentration has declined drastically. And I believe this the result of overusing Facebook and other similar social media.
Scientists have been comparing Facebook addiction with drug addiction. When an addict doesn’t get his drugs on the specific time, a special chemical is released in his brain. The scientific studeis say that a social network user shows similar symptoms- he becomes restless and agitated if s/he is unable to log in his account at the specific time. The special chemical is released in his brain as well. In other words, social network addiction s no different than drug addiction.

You must use technology, but make sure it doesn’t use you instead. Always remember, these modern technologies are like parasites living on your nutrients.
Let’s imagine a hypothetical scenario:
“You’ve grown older and have become a mother or a father. Your children are not grownups, they read is school or college. Now, after coming home you see your son or daughter smoking a cigarette with his/her feet on the table.
You ask him/her, ‘What are you doing dear?’
Your son/daughter smiles at you and says, ‘I’m smoking mom/dad.’
Then s/he puts his/her legs down and says, ‘I don’t feel like my meal would is complete without having at least one cigarette after the main course.’
After saying that, s/he took another blow in and released the black smoke from his/her mouth.
And you reply, ‘Ok dear, complete your homework after you are done with that.’
Then you come to your room and think- my son/daughter is such a nice child. He doesn’t go out and spoils his time with others; rather sits inside the house and smokes peacefully…..”
I know the guardians or parents among the audience is probably feeling mad at me, right now, after listening to this scenario. You might be saying, a mother or a father can never tolerate such a behavior.

Of course they can’t and they won’t.
Cigarette is addictive. There are also a lot of other addictions which we are not used to seeing around us. Therefore, a common example was used in this scenario as form of addiction.
We can never accept if our child is addicted to any kind of addiction. We would surely be concerned, worried and would do anything to bring him back on the right track. But, if this is really true then how can we allow our children to sit in front of Facebook for hours, see them getting addicted to it like that?

The issue that was doubtful in the beginning, has now become a proven truth through various research journals. The same reaction takes place in a person who is averted from Facebook, as someone who is averted from cocaine or any other form of drug; the same chemical is secreted and released in the brain. It’s quite obvious that this is not a simple childish entertainment anymore. This is as serious as drug addiction.

Some people might think my opinion or my speech is a bit extreme! The issue is still not that serious. But I can guarantee you that the issue is, in fact, pretty serious.
It is quite mysterious the way that a human brain works. A lot of a child’s ability, his/her brain structure and functional capability depends on how s/he utilized the brain during the time s/he was growing up. Therefore, it concerns me more to see someone younger addicted to Facebook than someone quite older.

We would be able to realize about 10 years later, about the harmful effects of our children spending all their time in front of a screen instead of running and playing around on open fields or playgrounds, now! But it would be quite late by then and we won’t be able to do anything. However, a bit of common sense now, could save us from the huge danger that’s coming ahead.
I’m not demeaning those who used the technology for a certain aim or target! But I surely show my concern for those who are being used by the technology.

All of you may not know that, the main purpose of the creators of this technology is to keep the user in their website or portal for longer, anyhow, by any means. For those who do not believe me, ‘When you visit any news or media website and look around, what do you see? There are a lot of important things happening around the world, but there’s not even a single sign of those stories! Or maybe just a few of the events alongside inflated and intriguing news which would keep hooked for longer. When you click in one news, you would be shown videos, one after another, without you even asking for them. And if you are not strong enough you might just waste hours and hours watching those unnecessary videos.

When you visit a website, they analyze and track your virtual behavior and would try push you to links and sites as per your ‘needs’. Just because you accepted the IT service, the cyber world knows almost everything about you.

Recently, I heard a real story about ‘Likes’. A young girl opened an account and posted something, hoping to get ‘likes’. When she saw no one noticed her posts or gave ‘likes’ she opened another account, and liked her own posts from the other account!
It might sound funny, but I was rather disappointed to hear that. I felt why a young girl of my country would grow up so poorly, with a meaningless purpose in life? Who decided that  ‘likes’ on a Facebook post gives meaning and purpose to life?
Even if you believe or not, Internet addiction specially Facebook addiction is certainly a hapless issue worth our concern. Therefore let me remind you, there IS a real physical life outside the online virtual world that we must live to the fullest.

[ Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal- Educationalist, writer and professor of Shahjalal Science and Technology University. Lately, he is trying to raise awareness about the harmful effect of social media to the youth and guardians. A summary of some selected points he made in a featured column and in the speech he gave in a convocation ceremony of Kushtiya Islami University on January 7, 2018, regarding this matter, has been comprised here. ]

Direct human interaction is needed than Facebook Communication

Professor Dr. Serajul Islam Chowdhury

Educationalist and Professor Emeritus of University of Dhaka

The problem is that most people of our society, especially the young ones, are affected by detachment, these days. This is a form of disease. Today, our families have become the victim of this ruthless disease of detachment, loneliness.

Hence, people within the society are not socializing or interacting with one another. There was a time when, community events played a key role in uniting people with one another- e.g. going to libraries, taking part in cultural programs, plays and functions, going to movies together etc. But they don’t do that anymore. People have even stopped going to movie theatres and prefer watching movies at their own homes, alone.

The societal connection is needed to fight this epidemic. Direct human interaction, is necessary rather than Facebook communication. We must arrange for social and cultural programs in schools, educational institutions, neighborhood etc. as opposed to writing, singing, watching movies at home alone.

It is my belief that in this way, we can establish a strong protest against the ever increasing epidemic of detachment. Because we cannot survive if this is allowed to continue. At the end, it is up to us to pave the path for change.

The Child wants Example, NOT Advice

Abul Momen

Poet, writer and columnist

I’ve seen while working with the children in the 41 years of my career, that children never learn from words. They hate advice but want examples. They learn by observing. The way they try to fit in larger shoes and dresses of their elders, they also learn manners and behavior from them.

The parents can’t expect their children to be well-behaved and calm when they keep or arguing all day! He must be presented with proper examples so he understands the difference between right and wrong, so he knows what is acceptable. The parents must also ensure that he gets the age appropriate knowledge as well. He must be provided with ‘learning of life’. The schools in our country don’t take the responsibility of those knowledge, hence it’s the parents’ job, it’s the family’s job.

If all get occupied with GPA-5, the children won’t be able to develop completely. He might score great in English and Mathematics, but he would fail in humanity, he won’t become a humane, a good human. And that would cause him to commit several mistakes as the place for values and morals in his life is empty.

A generation is being constructed that cannot differ between right and wrong. If the truth is 100 percent the lie would be 0. But they tend to think the lie is 80 percent and they can reach the truth with this lie. A society, a nation cannot move forward or advance in this way.

Our Freedom has Surely Increased but Our Awareness hasn’t

Anwara Syed Haque

Psychologist and Fiction Writer

We didn’t have Facebook in the past, but we had peace. Nowadays, people can’t even sit for sometime without checking Facebook notifications and updates. They can’t even sleep properly if they don’t see people’s statuses, bitch about various things and answer to people’s comments.
What do people do nowadays? Whatever the news is, whatever incident is, the first thing they do it post them on Facebook, whether positively or negatively. And a lot more people got hold of the information in moments. A relationship of so many days just got destroyed in a blow of air with a stupid comment!

This is how we are destroying our own peace. At the same time, increasing the hostility, fraud and deception among familial relationships. Our freedom has certainly increased but not our awareness. Hence, our human qualities are getting ruined because of this restlessness.

We must not be Controlled by Machines

Professor D. Aminul Islam

Renowned writer, Researcher and Professor of Philosophy, Dhaka University

I was studying in abroad back then. At that time I heard, the individuals working in the nuclear center needed to get a mental health check up every day before going in to their office and after coming out of there. Because, if an individual presses one button instead of another, the whole world would suffer. But how long would these tests work? The person who is completely consumed by a machine, must come out of the control of the machine in order to survive as a human!

We express our pride about the current generation. People are traveling the universe, their power and wealth has unimaginably increased. There’s a drastic advancement in technology and economy. But wealth-knowledge-fame- are these everything? What about the simultaneous increase of violence, hatred, feuds and murders? And the decrease in compassion and empathy! This says, we might have earned a lot in this generation, for sure, but probably, sacrificed a lot more….