Social media for parents: 5 powerful ways to lead by example

February is the month of love yet this has also been a month of great pain for Indians across the world. Even as we pay respect to our brave martyrs in Pulwama, we are also witnessing great anger, grief and sorrow across the country. This rage is spilling on to social media platforms too.[READ: Lost someone you loved?] and [READ: The Wisest Lesson I learned in 2018]

Let's remember that our brave men in the defence forces are not the only ones to have made a supreme sacrifice for the motherland. Their families too deserve our love, care and respect, for they too make the ultimate sacrifice for the nation - they are the champions who hold their heads high for the nation. We owe them more than our words can ever convey. We owe them decency. We owe them basic humanity.

But there's one thing we need to do. It's our duty to the nation and to ourselves.

Here it is:

Don't spread hatred or fake news.

Don't share gory images that may not be authentic in the first place.

Do not share irresponsibly.

Your actions on social media have grave legal consequences.

The more we read WhatsApp forwards, tweets and FB LIVE on the subject by multiple people, the more hatred and mis-information is amplified.

In the midst of such a grave situation in the country, it is important to exercise self-restraint and value our time and that of others. Let's not forget that, as parents, we also set an example to our children.

By valuing time and choosing what to focus on responsibly, we leave with our children a positive and lasting legacy.

We teach them to choose their battles responsibly and not to pick fights over matters that concern the nation's sovereignty.

[FOLLOW MY BOARDS ON PINTEREST]

A quick check list to sum up how NOT to post on social media:

1. Avoid speculation on social media about what the Indian defence forces should do or not do.

2. Do not spread hatred and fake news.

3. Do not make apologies for terrorists.

4. Avoid social media debates on an issue that pertains to the country's defence forces and the government.

5. Make sure that you share information responsibly on social media platforms.

Ask yourself first, "What value do I add to my conversations by sharing this?"

A fine way to help would be to volunteer for a good cause pertaining to the armed forces.

Make donations for the well being of the martyrs and their loved ones.

Do something creative. Sing a song. You can write a poem, make a painting, get involved in a creative project that makes you feel better and at peace with what is happening around you.

As parents, we have many choices on how to calibrate our reactions.

The best that we can do for the nation is to avoid spreading hate, act in the interest of the country and do what is best for our children by setting an example.

What else should parents consider while sharing social media posts?

Do share your views on this!

Comments

Most LOVED Posts

The Ugly Truth about Caste in Kerala

Many years ago, when I wrote this post on Kerala's caste system, I had not considered that people would start sending in abusive comments about one caste over the other. It baffles me that this is how Indians, all of us, continue to judge each other on account of caste differences. [ READ: Guru Kripa: Powerful Lessons at the Lotus Feet ] My question is - why do you ABUSE any caste or community? I suggest that you read about the lives of great Masters and their stories - none of them judged anyone on the basis of caste. You can read the life stories of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagawadpada, Tulsidas, Jnaneshwar, Namadev, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, Shirdi Sai Baba, and many more Gurus in Sanathana Dharma. NONE of them endorse these caste hierarchies in Bhakti Marga. Assuming that Guru Sampradaya does not appeal to your sensibilities, do read this new book 'Ants among Elephants' written by Sujatha Gidla, who writes about herself as being bor...

Best time to light diya

Want to know when is the best time to light diya or deepam at home? In most Hindu homes, 'deepam' or 'diya' is lit at least twice - once in the morning and then in the evening. For both times, brass is considered to be auspicious for lighting deepam or lamp at home. Clay diyas are auspicious for lighting at home. On Fridays, it is considered auspicious to use ghee in a silver lamp. When Should I Start Lighting Diyas? The symbolic shift begins from darkess to light. Therefore, in the evenings, light diya before sunset to usher in divine blessings into your home. What is the purpose of lighting a diya? Light dispels darkness. When we light a diya, we bring light into our hopes and positive energy in our personal spaces. Nothing is more beautiful than Light. At what time should we light diya today? Every morning at sunrise and every evening before or at sunset. An ideal time would be to light the diya at least half an hour before sunset. Can we light diya after 12 PM? In ...

Scientific reason behind lighting diyas

Lighting diyas at home is a part of my childhood. What is the science behind lighting diya? For decades, Hindu households light the diya or deepam every morning and evening. However, increasingly, there are many questions regarding why this practice is integral to the well-being of a Hindu home. [Source: Pexels.com] Significance of Lighting Deepam Let's do a practice session. At sunset, switch off all the lights in your home - feel the energy inside your home. After all, everything is the same - your home is the same, the furniture is the same, your personality is the same. Sit in the darkness and decode the energy in your home - is it the same as during sunl...

A Book Review: One and a Half Wife by Meghna Pant

When I picked up Meghna Pant's One and a Half Wife , it is the title that evoked a curiosity in me more than the blurb that explains the story of a young Indian Immigrant girl whose Big American dream turns to ashes. To be honest, I’d say that there didn't seem to be a 'new-ness' to the way the blurb explained the story. In fact, if given a second chance, I’d suggest to the author to completely rewrite the blurb because it is plain dull and doesn't do justice to the subtle, exquisite nuances that underlines this deeply touching, well written story. . Also read: The Power of OM and Dark Night of the Soul Talking about nuances, I like the introduction of the story beginning with a parrot who picks up cards to predict the little girl Amara’s destiny as a ‘one and a half wife.’ The description is deeply touching and will evoke interesting memories with a distinct Indianess that all of us can relate to. The author adds a dash of subtle humor too, poking fun at t...

Khatta Meetha: Life's Games of Wins and Losses

Priyadarshan’s Khatta Meetha is a movie that I didn’t want to miss. I was determined to see the movie that was a remake of one of my favorite Mohanlal-Srini movies. Tired of candy floss romance and terrorist-turns-good romance in Bollywood movies, I wanted to watch something that is about ordinary people like me. The song sequences in foreign locations, the mindless hero-heroine plots and unbelievable romantic encounters were chipping away at my interest in watching movies altogether because every movie seemed to be a rehash of a commercial formula that has doses of love, violence and glamour. Khatta Meetha: Romance is out, Social Satire and Mass Appeal is in Critics have come up with detailed interpretations of this film. However, an ordinary viewer like me didn’t go to nit-pick on the gaps in the movie. I went there to just watch and enjoy. I assume many viewers do the same when they go to watch a movie. When most people watch a Bollywood movie, if the hero-heroine chemistry isn’t...

Petals!

Search This Blog