How Much Time do Your Children Spend on Devices?
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bipartisan group in Congress is hoping to make it illegal for children younger than 13 years old to access social media and require parents to consent before teens younger than 18 can use those platforms. In Utah and Arkansas, lawmakers already signed laws requiring parental consent for social media users younger than 18. Some say the effort is wasted, however, because social media organizations face challenges when it comes to verifying the ages of their users. Past proposals have focused on creating privacy protections for kids who use social media and would require platforms to restrict ads targeted to kids that could potentially harm young users. Some in the tech industry have pushed back, saying such efforts would restrict constitutionally protected free speech.
Meanwhile, TikTok has a one-hour time limit for those younger than 18, but users can bypass it by punching in a password. A few years ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an advisory recommending parents not only limit screen time for children younger
than 1, but they forbid it altogether. For toddlers, WHO says no more than one hour of “sedentary screen time” is healthy; and limiting or even eliminating screen time for all children younger than 5 will help them be more physically active, sleep better and grow into healthier adults.
Keep Pets Safe From Electrical Hazards at Home
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nce the kids head back to school, it’s likely your house will sit empty for most of the day—unless you have pets. And pets, too often, express their loneliness by tearing up the house. This fall, consider designing a room just for your pets, where they can roam around uncaged, play all day, rest comfortably and keep the destruction to a minimum. How about converting a spare room or your garage into a pet-friendly space? Here’s how to get started: 1. Clear the area of any items you don’t want your pet to chew or scratch. Look for valuables and materials you want to keep or use, and look also for paint cans, cleaning chemicals, tools and anything with sharp edges
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Georgia Magazine
September 2024
that could harm your pet. If you don’t have anywhere else to store these items, invest in a large storage container that your pet cannot open. 2. Cover electrical outlets and any exposed wiring. Remove or cover electrical cords or attach them high on walls so your pet can’t reach them to chew on or get tangled in.
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3. Scour the floors and lower walls, leaving no trace of spilled poisons like antifreeze, gas, oil and paint. This also will remove harmful odors. 4. Lock all windows and doors, and securely cover any holes or vents that your pet could squeeze through in an effort to get outdoors. 5. Lay an inexpensive, easy-toclean laminate floor so you can mop up pet accidents. Concrete is porous, so it absorbs liquids and smells. Wood is absorbent, too, and scratches easily. 6. Install insulation if your pet’s room is in the garage so it won’t get too hot or cold. Furnish the room with a big, soft, washable bed, a food-andwater area, toys, scratching posts and even music.
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