‘Our youth are exposed’: Lincoln doctor shares tips to protect children online

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Escaping viral imagery online can be nearly impossible, especially when graphic or violent content makes headlines.

Dave Miers, senior director at Bryan Health, says violent content can impact children in various ways.

“That means that children learn to be less kind, less caring to others, because of that exposure to violence,” Miers said.

Miers says viewing harmful content on television and in video games can cause adverse effects.

And parents play a pivotal role in what and how much content children interact with.

“As a country, we’ve just experienced over the past couple of years a lot of violent events,” he said. “And our youth are exposed to that.”

Miers suggests parents help their children process events they see online and, if necessary, seek outside resources.

“It’s important for us to be role models and for us to role model in our social media use,” he said. “Because of a lot of times, they’ll see what we’re looking at and they’re going to want model what we’re doing.”

Miers said the Bryan Health Behavioral Health Screening website can help concerned parents find available resources.