What is more important: the real or the virtual world?
Which is more valuable: physical or virtual contact? Most adults answer this without hesitation: being together in person is certainly better! Many will therefore not like this statement, but I think it depends.
Children and young people switch back and forth between the real and virtual worlds with breathtaking nonchalance. First they play football for two hours, then the group breaks up their tents on the playground and everyone rushes home to play a round of Fortnite as a group 15 minutes later. The conversation resumes at practically the same point - the transition to virtual communication is apparently only a problem for the parents.
Young people can sometimes find physical contact with other people stressful.
We parents should respect the fact that children and young people are not bothered by the question of whether a conversation takes place in a chat or face-to-face. This shows the young generation's own flexibility. It goes without saying that they take advantage of the best of both worlds - and why shouldn't they?
As an adult, however, I also know from my own experience that young people can sometimes find physical contact with other people stressful. The body changes during puberty, you feel insecure, awkward and don't really know what to say spontaneously.
Accordingly, young people are sometimes more relaxed when they can communicate on a screen. There is an interesting, albeit somewhat older, study by the German Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion Research: in 2009, only 36 per cent of 14 to 19-year-olds considered face-to-face conversations to be the most pleasant form of conversation.
Parents should react to a withdrawal into the virtual world
It is part of every older generation to perceive the current youth as unruly and rebellious. This music, the style of dress, the lack of motivation! And also: their communication.
We should accept that for teenagers, virtual and real meetings are equally important and are part of youth culture.
It is reassuring to know that our parents must have felt the same way about ourselves. However, it does not relieve us of the responsibility of recognising the subtle differences and risks and reacting appropriately.
Parents should seek dialogue, especially if children or young people withdraw mainly into the virtual world. After all, real contact with other people at this age is an important training ground for developing and consolidating social skills. At the same time, we should relax and accept that for teenagers, virtual and real-life meetings are of equal value and are part of youth culture.
