December 4, 2024

Technology and AI are ruling all of us, especially the younger generation. Children are a very special gift of the Almighty. These beautiful minds are often imprisoned by social media. God has given a very special power to every teacher to shape a child's future. Directly or indirectly, teachers play a vital role in students' lives.

As teachers, we need to understand that every student in the classroom is unique and talented. Some may excel academically, others in cultural activities, and some in sports. Every child has their own strengths and weaknesses. We, as teachers, need to recognize this in each child and guide them to nurture the special talent within them.

Technology is creating a gap between children and all other relationships. Children believe that the world of social media is the reality and that whatever is displayed on social media is true. The time students devote to social media is increasing day by day. We teachers need to understand this and handle it sensibly. We need to help students realize the harsh realities of social media by sharing real-life incidents happening across the globe.

The adolescent age between 14 to 18 years is a very crucial and critical stage in a student’s life. Students go through many physical, biological, and mental changes during this age. It is our duty as teachers to speak openly with students about these changes so that they are cautious and aware of the harsh realities of society.

AI and other technologies have provided a vast platform for students to explore anything they want. Social media is one such platform where students are exposed to unwanted and irrelevant content. Their screen time averages 4–5 hours a day, increasing to 7–10 hours during weekends. This excessive screen time negatively impacts their lives. They often fall into unwanted addictions and begin to believe that nothing else is more important. This poses a serious threat to their future.

India is blessed with a large youth population. If our students do not focus on gaining knowledge, we will face severe consequences in terms of unemployment in the future. In this technology-driven world, everything is changing rapidly. Every field is affected by AI and robotics. There is a significant gap between skilled youths and educated youths without skills in our country. Students are obtaining degrees, but their conceptual knowledge and skill sets remain minimal. This is why they struggle to secure jobs even after earning degrees. Companies value skills over marks. However, students often believe that achieving good grades is enough to secure jobs, so they focus solely on clearing exams rather than gaining knowledge.

Nowadays, students' attention, concentration, and focus are shifting from studies to the latest electronic gadgets. The COVID-19 pandemic was a time when every student had access to mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and computers as study tools. Unfortunately, many students have now become addicted to these gadgets, which pose a threat to their academic progress. Teachers must work to redirect students’ focus back to studies. Students have lost their ability to think critically and creatively because of their dependence on the AI world.

Students now rely on the internet for every small task. They have lost the habit of reading books or referring to them for completing assignments and studying. We need to bring our children out of this technical world. This transformation will not happen overnight, but with continuous efforts from parents and teachers, it is possible to free our children from the imprisonment of social media and other harmful online influences. Parents and teachers must collaborate to bring students back to the real world. It is essential to ensure that students do not access inappropriate content on the internet. We should act as watchdogs and monitor their online activities.

There are many features on mobile devices designed to ensure safety and security. We must utilize these features to protect our children.

As teachers, we need to avoid encouraging students to use mobile phones for studies. Instead, we should foster a habit of reading books among students. Until the age of 18, there is no necessity for students to rely on the internet for studies. Once students reach maturity, it is appropriate to introduce them to the internet for academic purposes. It is our responsibility to protect our children from the traps of social media and technology addiction and to guide them toward becoming responsible citizens of India.