Visual Content and YOur Child Video Games and Internet Culture

Introduction I am Zachary Rubbico, 6th grade teacher, and an avid technology enthusiast I was raised in what some consider to be the developing stages of computers and videogames as casual home entertainment. I am speaking on the behalf of the internet age and how your child interacts with it. And as always pay attention to your tone - your tone and body language will communicate your feelings as much as your words do!

Learn About the Games Your Child is Playing First and foremost, get an understanding about the games that your child is playing, if your child wants a game research it before considering buying it and remember that not all games are equal.

Violent Video Games and You In terms of violent video games, you should take advantage of the learning culture and have a teachable moment Create rules and foundation for gaming Violent Video Games and You Don’t freakout and take all of your students’ things

Two of the most highest selling games in the past five years - one game features a fantastical world where gamers will build things to their imagination, fight fantastical animals, and create whatever they want and the other is known to be an overly violent game that deals with gang violence, drugs deals, and street racing. Quite a big difference.

Beware the Lack of Boundaries Video games do not make people violent, indistinguishable boundaries do. There was a case where two 12-year olds Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, who lured their best friend into the woods, stabbed her 19 times, then confessed they did it to appease a tall and faceless man known online as Slenderman.

Sexual Imagery on the internet Middle school students and even younger are being exposed to Internet culture at younger ages due to social media and what they see online Your child’s image can be exposed to multiple different outlets throughout the day such as text, Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter The most worrisome things is that friends or even complete strangers “follow” them and every post they make

The Internet Where Nothing Goes Away Nothing goes away on the internet, private messages, “deleted” photos, nearly everything can be made public whether or not the recipient decides to keep it private. Deleted photos from the internet still exist on a server somewhere so nothing will ever be truly deleted

Conversation Have a conversation with your child about oversharing, as a young adult, I post quite a bit about my own daily life with pictures of where I’m at or food even, but have the conversation about posting wisely because there is always a “what if” conversation that could occur Make it a teachable learning moment where you can have a positive discussion rather than ruling the child out and slamming your own decisions