By Rachel FongImage via Randy Lemoine

What are YOU missing out on?

With 2 in 3 Canadians using social media today, our connectivity is remarkable to say the least

Source: Michael Oliveira, Two in Three Canadians Use Social Media Image via Buster Benson

The younger generation has become

of smartphones and of access to the Internet

increasingly demanding

Image via futurestreet

On an average day, young adults

send109.5 texts

per day

Source: Richard Alleyne, Mobile Phone Addiction Ruining RelationshipsImage via TsukodE

That’s over

3200 texts per month

Image via TsukodE

But where does this constant need for connectivity stem

from?

Image via Doug Zwick

it’s necessary for effective cultural development and a

key in preventing social isolation

It’s quite simple in the mind of a teen –

Source: Brian Hall, Teenagers & Smartphones: How They’re Already

Changing the WorldImage via Geir Jartveit

Or perhaps it has grown to be than that…

moreImage via Sahiru

…it’s an addiction

Image via Justin R

…it’s an illness

Image via Rob Friesel

…it’s Nomophobia

Image via Marianne Masculino

it feels almost as though I’m naked in public ”

“The occasional day when my phone isn’t charged or I leave it behind,

Image via Taco EkkelSource: Martha Irvine, More youth use smartphones to log online: US report

- Michael Weller, senior at New Trier High School

This brings up an important question

How are parents coping and competing with this digital age?

Image via Bilal Kamoon

61% of parents No.1 concern with teen social networking

is sharing personal information online

Source: Taylor Thomas, 30 Statistics About Teens and Social NetworkingImage via Niklas Wikström

70% of parents are concerned about how

their children manage their reputations online

Source: Leanne Italie, Mom Goes Viral With Son’s Phone Code of ConductImage via tschundler

47% of parents admit that

ensuring their teens are safe online can be

overwhelming

Source: Taylor Thomas, 30 Statistics about Teens and Social NetworkingImage via Marc Davis

and constant conversation between children

and parents

The goal is to have a balanced exposure

Image via Hans Splinter

But first…

Image via Artotem

But first…

Parents have to deal with their

OWN digital obsession

Image via Artotem Source: Leanne Italie, Mom Goes Viral With Son’s Phone Code of Conduct

Perhaps it takes a revolutionary parenting style

– a phone code of conduct Image via o5com

Or maybe just a

reminder of what we’re missing

out on…

Image via Gabriel Toro

See the world.

Feel the sun’s warmth.

Listen to the children laugh.

Smell the roses.

Image via H. Cham

“Don’t take a zillion pictures and videos. There is no need to document

everything”

Image via jonmartin ()Source: Leanne Italie, Mom Goes Viral With Son’s Phone Code of Conduct

- Janell Hofmann, mother

Live your experiences.

Source: Leanne Italie, Mom Goes Viral With Son’s Phone Code of ConductImage via jonel hanopol

They will be stored in your memory for

eternity

Live your experiences.

Source: Leanne Italie, Mom Goes Viral With Son’s Phone Code of Conduct- Janell Hofmann, mother

Image via jonel hanopol

Credits

All images are licensed under the Creative Commons Non-Commercial Share Alike 3.0

agreement, and sourced from flickr