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

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.

Author Bio
Article Info
Popular Posts
Author Bio
Hispanic Mama

Hispanic Mama

Blogger at Hispanic Mama
etc.
Power Bio Box by Zyra Console
Article Info
You are here: Home Causes How To Protect Kids in the Digital Space
Title:
How To Protect Kids in the Digital Space
Authors:
  • Hispanic Mama
Categories:
  • Causes
Mentions:
Not Specified
Keywords:
kids in the digital space
Last Updated:
January 7, 2021
Popular Posts
Not Specified

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

Looking for Something?

          hello@empoderadigital.com

Browse Our Categories

Top Posts

  • 15 Traditional Nursery Rhymes in Spanish
    15 Traditional Nursery Rhymes in Spanish
  • 10 Songs in Spanish to Dedicate to Mothers
    10 Songs in Spanish to Dedicate to Mothers
  • Phrases That Latina Moms Say
    Phrases That Latina Moms Say
  • Giving Thanks and FREE Thank You Cards in Spanish
    Giving Thanks and FREE Thank You Cards in Spanish
  • 5 Most Popular Sports in Latin America
    5 Most Popular Sports in Latin America
  • Inspiring Quotes About Bilingualism
    Inspiring Quotes About Bilingualism
  • Best Classic Cartoons in Spanish for Children
    Best Classic Cartoons in Spanish for Children
  • 7 Quotes About Being An Immigrant By Famous Latinos
    7 Quotes About Being An Immigrant By Famous Latinos
  • Elena of Avalor: The Importance of Disney's First Latina Princess
    Elena of Avalor: The Importance of Disney's First Latina Princess
  • How To Make Humita
    How To Make Humita

Footer

About

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

 

Loading Comments...