FASD and online resources
The security of their children on the Internet and in social media is a concern shared by all parents. The Internet is a large repository of knowledge and connections that can lead to potentially dangerous circumstances, from chat to searches. FASD sufferers’ caregivers frequently worry more about raising their children in a digital age.
Children and teenagers with FASD are frequently more vulnerable while communicating online. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy may affect brain development and function. Impulse control and decision-making issues are common in people with FASD. They frequently have communication problems, which can make it difficult to grasp jokes and sarcasm.
Due to the stress that comes with face-to-face contacts, people with FASD also have difficulty interacting with others and may instead choose to use digital connections. Children with FASD also have difficulty understanding the consequences of their actions, which can make it challenging to evaluate risk and spot potentially dangerous circumstances.
People with this impairment are more likely to be victimized and unintentionally victimize others when engaging online due to their neurodevelopmental issues. Children with FASD can be more inclined to communicate with strangers online in an effort to create new acquaintances. They might be less reluctant to disclose their names and give out private information. The addictive nature of Internet interactions may present additional difficulties for kids with FASD.
methods for staying secure online
Finding ways to protect your family online can be challenging. While there aren’t many tools at their disposal to assist caretakers of people with FASD in navigating the online world, the book FASD and the Online World contains some useful advice. In this book, Dr. Ira Chasnoff outlines the difficulties that people with FASD face when engaging online and offers families workable solutions. Some of these tactics consist of:
putting in place external controls when the child first starts interacting online, designating specific times and locations for children to use electronic devices, enforcing the rules among all family members, keeping an eye on the devices both regularly and infrequently, and keeping an eye on the child on their social media accounts.
Dr. Chasnoff advises parents to talk to their children about the ethics and morals of online communication. He advocates outlining guidelines like “always be polite online,” explicitly defining inappropriate behaviors for both your child and others online, and encouraging them to ask questions when they are unsure, despite the fact that these abstract concepts can be challenging to express. It may be possible to steer clear of some of the difficulties that people with FASD encounter by having these conversations repeatedly and posting some straightforward instructions on the computer.
Internet Safety Resources
Dr. Ira Chasnoff and Jess McBeath are featured in some excellent interviews on the FASD Success Show Podcast where they both talk about online safety.
There are numerous other tools available for online safety. Although not always appropriate to families with FASD, some of these strategies might be:
internet safety resources at Cybertip.ca
NeedHelpNow.ca
ProtectKidsOnline.ca
online Zoe and Molly
We Can Improve the Internet Together
The Internet offers advantages. It can help people connect in positive ways, but we need to make sure we have a strategy in place to promote responsible use and safe interactions. We all have a part to play in building and preserving a better online world, whether you are a child, parent, caregiver, educator, policymaker, or business executive.
