In a society, such as Oman, the family model represents the pillar upon which the people have developed a unique organised pattern of relationships through interaction with one another. The Omanis inherently have a habitual conduct and deportment marked by self-respect and respect for others.
Omanis are brought up to hold high and special regard for elderly persons. If you visit an Omani family, youngsters do not speak in the presence of elderly people, nor do they interrupt them while talking.
It is not necessarily the father or mother who directs youngsters if they misbehave. It is rather the responsibility of the whole of the society to bring to some standard and required condition of good social conduct. Elders set a good example especially within the Omani social edifice.
Based on this magnificently impressive solid societal basis, the parents should all the time set an exemplary model on their own use of social media. Children often closely imitate adult behaviour, so it is important for parents to show for purposes of demonstration respectful settled tendency and usual manner of online communication and social media behaviour, marked by responsibility and accountability.
Another important aspect is that Omani parents need to teach their children a digital conduct necessitated by good breeding and social life conventions. By doing so, children develop understanding, vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts and experience of another. As a result, digital etiquette and empathy should become an acquired mode of behaviour and respect in digital interactions that should be nearly or completely involuntary with children. Children should learn to form or have in their mind to be kind and helpful before they post. Arising from and characterised by sympathy and forbearance, it is important for the parents to make their children understand what it means to cause emotional pain or anguish to someone’s feelings. Instead, youngsters should learn to develop inherited characteristics and traits of being appreciative and having responsive awareness and recognition of others.
Further, children should be taught to plan for their future and have a goal in life. As they are still at their early stage of self-consciousness of digital footprints, parents need to explain to their children that their online actions cannot be easily washed away, or erased, making such marks is difficult to be removed.
As inherited, established and customary patterns of thought, action and behaviour are matters which vary according to time and place, parents should take into account the changes in the rule of conduct and behaviour. They should not impose on their children conventions that have become no longer current by depriving them of the useful benefits of the digital age.
But we need to show children that everything they share or post online can be traced back to them and can be retrieved by going backward over them. Sharing personal information, images, or comments can have consequences not only in the short term but also in the long run. Such online footprints can be used as evidence against them in the future, causing long-term serious damage.
The writer is Dean of Al Zahra College for Women, Oman
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
