• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • About Me
    • Work With Me
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • Bilingual Resources
    • Children’s Books
    • Music
    • Quotes
    • Movies
    • Printables
    • Apps, Toys, Games y Más
  • Bicultural Life
    • Parenting
    • Powerful Hispanic Mamas
    • Mamás Inmigrantes
  • Food
  • Travel
    • All About Ecuador
  • Causes
  • Subscribe
  • Nav Widget Area

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Hispanic Mama

Empowering through Heritage and Language

Subscribe

How To Protect Kids in the Digital Space

I have a confession to make. After being in quarantine for more than 50 days, my kids screen time has skyrocketed. Un montón. As a mother, I have learned a thing or two about how to protect kids in the digital space.

I don’t feel bad about our use of screen time during this pandemic. (Sorry abuelas) Screens have become necessary to navigate distance learning, keep in touch with loved ones, and juggle the new normal of our social distance times.

What I am worried about is how this also means exposing my children to an environment where their rights and health are at risk.

RELATED POST: 4 THINGS LATINA MOMS CAN DO TO PROTECT THEIR HEALTH

How Can We Protect Our Children

The last few weeks have been tough. Not only have we had to deal with the changes in routines and learning to live our lives within a pandemic, but we also sold our home of ten years and moved to a new state.

Because of all the sudden changes to my children’s lives, I have relaxed some rules and tried to be more patient. So when the other day my twelve year-old out of the blue asked me to buy her make-up, I didn’t think twice.

As I watched this little girl of mine exploring colors and brushes, I couldn’t help to wonder how the heck in five weeks she suddenly got interested in wearing make-up. Not that make-up is a bad thing but it’s just a bit atypical for someone who didn’t want to put lipgloss on for her dancing recital three months ago. Was it a quarantine miracle?

After I learned more about digital market targeting to Latino children on this article on the UnidosUS website, I started paying more attention to the ads on the “free versions” of apps that my kids have access to and the websites that they visit during the week. And this is what I found.

In one week, my Kindergarten was presented ads from 3 gaseosa drinks and 2 sugary snacks. My third grader was presented to ads of a fast-food chain and 2 sugary snacks. Meanwhile, my fifth-grader, who has access to a mobile phone was targeted with several ads of junk food and.. makeup.

These ads are intentionally targeted at our children to influence their behavior. My frustration is that even as an informed parent, it would be difficult to protect my kids’ personal information from being collected on websites, apps, and other digital content that my kids use. That is why we need policymakers to develop strong protections for children’s digital privacy by strengthening The Child Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)

Targeting ads designed to negatively influence our children’s nutrition choices only reinforces health issues. Latino kids are getting a “double dose” of targeted marketing in both English and Spanish. This is terrifying and a major racial and health equality issue.

We can stay up to date with the the things we can do to protect kids from the harms of digital targeted marketing and how we can take action by following UnidosUS social channels.

This is a sponsored post. All my opinions are my own.

Related Posts

  • How to Preserve Latino Christmas TraditionsHow to Preserve Latino Christmas Traditions
  • Raising Kids To Be Proud of Their Latino HeritageRaising Kids To Be Proud of Their Latino Heritage
  • The Flavors and Traditions of the Day of the Dead in EcuadorThe Flavors and Traditions of the Day of the Dead in Ecuador
  • Heritage Trips: A Great Resource For Raising Bilingual ChildrenHeritage Trips: A Great Resource For Raising Bilingual Children
  • Creamy Veggie EnchiladasCreamy Veggie Enchiladas
  • Walking Around Town With Babies In TowWalking Around Town With Babies In Tow

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Related

May 14, 2020 11:00 pm Hispanic Mama Filed Under: Causes

Primary Sidebar

Hey Mama, Hey.

¡Hola! I'm Linda, a Latina millennial mom and a bilingual writer sharing stories about my bicultural and bilingual life in Raleigh, North Carolina. Read More…

Looking for Something?

             emailhispanicmama@gmail.com

Browse Our Categories

Top Posts

  • Christmas In Ecuador
    Christmas In Ecuador
  • 9 Selena Quintanilla Inspiring Quotes
    9 Selena Quintanilla Inspiring Quotes
  • 10 Songs in Spanish to Dedicate to Mothers
    10 Songs in Spanish to Dedicate to Mothers
  • 18 Popular Latino Christmas Songs
    18 Popular Latino Christmas Songs
  • Phrases That Latina Moms Say
    Phrases That Latina Moms Say
  • 5 Most Popular Sports in Latin America
    5 Most Popular Sports in Latin America
  • 10 Children's Books about Christmas
    10 Children's Books about Christmas
  • 6 Alphabet Songs in Spanish
    6 Alphabet Songs in Spanish
  • 10+ Popular Latino Desserts You Need To Try
    10+ Popular Latino Desserts You Need To Try
  • 7 Quotes About Being An Immigrant By Famous Latinos
    7 Quotes About Being An Immigrant By Famous Latinos

Footer

About Me

All About Ecuador

Favorite Bilingual Books

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

© Copyright 2016 · Pretty Lifestyle WordPress Theme by: PDCD