Unveiling Issues in Traditional Social Media Platforms

It’s easy to say that parents want the absolute best for their kids. No one would argue with you. As parents, we are also very, very busy! We have so many tasks and responsibilities competing for our attention that entertaining our children can easily become another task on our long to-do lists.

As technology has advanced, so have the entertainment options for our children. Phone games designed just for kids and social media content are plentiful. Some platforms have areas made just for kids, and plenty of content creators and influencers have jumped on the kid-friendly bandwagon.

All that content produced just for our kids should make entertaining them easy - right? Where is the harm? What could go wrong? Turns out, the internet isn’t a safe place!

Content, content, content 

Few of the kid focused content creators have had as much success with product review videos as Ryan’s World. His channel was one of the original product unboxing channels for kids. His success has grown enough that he has had a Nickelodeon show and a Target toy line. But what is his channel really about? 

Ryan is a young kid who continually opens and plays with new toys—presents if you will. To a kid, that could seem like an eternal Christmas. However, it is easy to see that this can create an environment where kids constantly want something new, bigger, and better. 

Feelings of entitlement can become prevalent, and parental guilt to “keep up with the Joneses” kicks in, creating a vicious cycle. This culture where kids are constantly asking for new things is something no parent wants to deal with or face, and it can lead to burnout for both the parent and child. 

So, what kind of content should we be giving our kids? Thankfully, the answer is simple enough: We should be giving them good, nutritious content. Content that is positive without any kind of negative messaging; content that encourages the child to learn and grow emotionally in a gentle and safe way. 

Platforms like PBS Kids have nailed this type of content. It’s informative, entertaining, and, above all, safe. Content from PBS Kids, the Discovery Channel, and others is found within Hello Wonder, where your child can browse freely, and you can rest easy, knowing they are safe.    

Mitigate meltdowns  

If there has ever been a reason for a kid to have a major meltdown, chances are that it was about taking away the tablet or phone. Parents are often in situations where engaging with technology needs to end for many reasons, such as because dinner is ready or enough time spent on the tablet for the day. But these transitions can be challenging. 

The capability of applications or programs to allow parents to transition kids gently just isn’t readily available with mainstream media. Hello Wonder has seen the need for this and responded. When parents have decided that it’s time for their child to stop playing with Hello Wonder, they can remotely pause the app, and Wonder appears sleepy, with a message saying that Wonder needs to rest. The parent is taken out of the equation, avoiding confrontation and meltdowns. 

Soon, parents can specify time guidelines for how long their kids can interact with Hello Wonder, with additional parameters about how that time can be spent. Wonder will grow increasingly sleepy, signaling to the child that soon their time will end, creating an even more gentle and seamless transition away from the app. 

End the endless loop

As technology advances, so do the tools available to social media platforms. Algorithms have been created to track your usage and, more importantly, keep you using the platform. Unfortunately, these aren’t limited to adult content, so kids are encouraged to keep watching as the content they’re served up fits perfectly with their interests. 

The autoplay feature is also problematic for many families. As content is continually being served up, with no pause or interruption, it’s easy to lose track of the time spent on these platforms. If your kid is using Hello Wonder, that concern simply goes away. 

Parents are notified when their kids access new content, so it’s easy to see use patterns. Summaries regarding the child's usage are also sent out daily. Wonder chimes in every so often to ask a question or otherwise engage with the child. With the parental guidelines set up in the parental controls, parents can also encourage particular types of content or learning goals for their children. 

Family first

Every family’s approach to social media and the internet will vary, and that’s okay. It’s up to each family to set boundaries around content and screen time. At Wonder, we aim to educate parents and help them make long-lasting digital decisions for their children, keeping them safe and giving parents the peace of mind we crave.