The internet has probably made one of the biggest impacts to our society since it was first invented. It has opened so many doorways to brand new opportunities, ideas, and resources; both good and bad.

The main reason why we have the internet is because of accessibility. Want a recipe for a strawberry cheesecake with only five ingredients? Want a picture of a dachshund wearing a costume? What about how to manage your stress and how to properly make a presentation? (Almost) all of your questions can be answered at the click of a button. It’s almost scary how easily different things can be accessed with the internet.

Accessibility, unfortunately, can also mean that we can easily find the darkest parts of the internet. You could accidentally (or purposefully) come across a picture or piece of writing that shouldn’t be seen. It can be pretty traumatizing.

The dark web has made a huge negative impact on society, but I’ll be honest, I don’t think that it’s the reason for everything on the planet that’s gone wrong.

We all know the classic parents’ line of, “It’s because of that phone,” whether it’s because of a physical, emotional, or mental problem regarding their kids. While it’s true that addiction to social media and other online means can cause feelings of minor to major distress, that doesn’t mean that it’s all to blame.

It honestly makes me so sad to hear some kids nowadays trying to express their feelings to their parents and only get shut down with that same phrase, “It’s that phone.” What if it isn’t? What if their feelings stem from abuse from another party, intrusive thoughts, etc?

You can’t shut your kid out because of the internet. You’re acting like they’re the reason that the internet is so “horrible.” We get that the internet can be a pretty horrible place, but it doesn’t always contribute to your kid’s inner feelings.

Allow them to talk to you about how they feel. Allow them to share their reasonings and speak to them with respect. If you find it hard to relate to them, then help them find someone who can be trusted with this kind of information, like a therapist.

If you don’t allow your kid to talk to you about this because “it’s always the phones these days,” then your kid won’t want to talk to you. You can’t blame every concerning thought they have on a phone and wonder why your kid doesn’t want to vent to you again. A crucial part of being a parent is to be trustworthy towards your child and be there for them if they have any concerns.

Don’t worry about the internet at a time like this. Could it be a contributing factor? Yes, but not always. Just because it can doesn’t mean it is. Patience is key.