Teaching critical information, values shift among issues faced by parents of Gen Beta – sociologist

Sociologist Brother Clifford Sorita outlined three challenges faced by parents of Gen Beta (babies born in 2025 until 2039) when it comes to raising their children.

According to Mariz Umali's report on "24 Oras" Friday, these challenges include the world being borderless, teaching of critical information, and shift of values.

"Kung paano natin i-refilter 'yung pagdaloy ng napakaraming impormasyon na 'to, na dadaloy sa AI or sa tinatawag nating teknolohiya ng komunikasyon Anong impormasyon ba ang mas gagamitin dapat ng bata?" said Sorita. 

"How will they be able to maintain the Filipino identity sa pagdami ng iba-ibang klaseng kultura na dadaloy sa kaniyang kamalayan?" he added.

Social analyst Mark McCrindle had predicted that Gen Beta will be the generation that relies on Artificial Intelligence (AI) daily and their habits would be significantly influenced by their Millennial and Gen Z parents.

Bea Eusuya-Capellan, an expectant mom of a Gen Beta baby, shared that she and her husband will not allow people to post photos of their child without their permission

"The internet today is not very safe. That really worries us kasi sobrang rampant na ngayon ng issues when it comes to pedophilia and cybercrime," she said.

She also noticed among Generation Alpha that it's difficult to teach them Filipino values.

"Ang hirap ituro sa kanila 'yung ate, kuya, po, opo, pagmano kasi they don't easily access that kind of knowledge online. 'Yung Filipino values, that can be very beneficial for their pinaka well-being while they grow up," added Eusuya-Capellan.

According to Umali, Sorita said that the solution is simple to tackle these challenges facing parents of Gen Beta. These can be remembered through the ABC: A, appreciate values; B, boundaries are set; and C, critical appreciation of information.

"Positive reinforcement. Kinakailangan palagi ang bata nakikita niya sa mga magulang niya 'yung values na gustong ipakita ng magulang. B is for boundary, when do they need to use their gadget? Kinakailangan mapanuri, not just accept information but be critical of the information," shared Sorita.

He added that technology is "always a double-edged sword."

"Amoral 'yan eh. Hindi mo naman pwedeng sabihin na technology's evil. We are supposed to control technology and not technology controlling us."

As for Eusuya-Capellan, she also shared that she and her husband won't rely on gadgets, the internet, and social media to distract their child.

"Dapat meron kaming strict na oras kung kelan lang siya pwedeng gumamit nito," she said. "Mas alam ko na ngayon how to better plan on how I'll be able to utilize technology."

— CDC, GMA Integrated News