“Supervising internet usage by kids is necessary”- panellists at the launching of Audra HomeShield

In Bangladesh, 50% of total internet bandwidth is used for social media, mobile games and pornography. And 64.87% of children are at risk of developing severe internet addiction. Audra HomeShield, a robust internet controller built with 3 major components, works to help parents oversee what children are watching online and set boundaries for a healthy internet. Any internet traffic can come to your home if it is safe or you allow it through this cloud-based service.

These were the concerns raised and discussed by the panellists at the virtual inauguration ceremony of 'Audra HomeShield', by Audra Bangladesh and Gadget & Gear in partnership with Daily Star. The company launched 'Audra HomeShield', Bangladesh's first-ever internet security and parental control solution, through a ceremony yesterday. The speakers also talked about the importance of protecting yourself and your children from internet addiction and preventing data loss and hacking. The online event was hosted by Social Communication Entrepreneur Mahzabin Ferdous.

Dr Sayedul Ashraf, Lead Psychiatrist and Managing Director at LifeSpring addressed the importance of parental guidance in this regard for growing children and controlling the unsuitable contents for them. 

"Nowadays, children are easily exposed to inappropriate content for which they are not psychologically prepared. Overloading information on various topics along with such improper disclosures are making them unsocial, unrestful and emotionally numb," he said.

Raffat Binte Rashid, Editor, Star Lifestyle, The Daily Star, said, "Parents need to give more time to their kids while being offline as children learn whatever they see around them. Some parents even provide tablets or smartphones to their toddlers or children under 5. Getting addicted to the internet from such an early age leads to behavioural growth issues and language disorders." 

"Kids are net-savvy more than us, and they need the internet and gadgets for online education, gaining knowledge, and due to peer pressure, which cannot be stopped. However, overseeing what they do is a must," she added. 

Ola J Lind, Internet Security Expert, Audra, addressing this internet addiction as a global issue, described how Audra HomeShield works. "Audra HomeShield is not the only solution for everything, but it is a very good start to reduce internet and gadget addiction. We cannot snatch their smartphones to see what they are surfing as it can affect them negatively. Consequently, it may happen that we do not know what they do until something big happens. This is where Audra HomeShield may come to the rescue," he said. 

"This is our social responsibility to provide something that can help parents and our young generation to come out from such addiction. Audra HomeShield is such a device that ensures digital security and assists young parents to keep kids on the right track," said Anawar Hossain, Head of Sales, Gadget & Gear.

"Internet addiction may lead to issues regarding psychological resilience. In this case, they always want people to appreciate or give something to them. This kind of attitude is harmful to their mental growth. Have open communication with your children frequently, and try to connect with them before correcting them for their mistakes. Moreover, overcome your internet addiction and set an example for your kids," concluded Dr Sayedul Ashraf.