Nerve-ember. It’s a scary time of the year, when exams and kids safety are top of the mind. Students are anxious. Teachers are pushing. Mums are panicking. People are working harder for the festive season. Everyone is counting their pennies, eager to spend some time away, or on gifts or just celebrate. And on the other end of the scale.. opportunists looking for quick cash, desperate to make ends meet. Nerve-ember is when regular people tighten their reigns, beef up the security settings, and pray for safety. Safety of property, themselves and most importantly their kids safety.
Stranger Danger
In the wake of the recent kidnappings, our security antennas have just been raised. The abduction of the Moti brothers in particular has hit me, hard. While my thoughts and prayers continue to revert to them, the sinking realization that this is not a movie sets in.
Radios, podcasts, twitter and even more speak of the increased rate of kidnappings in SA and the security measure one has to keep in place especially with regards to kids safety and stranger danger. This angers me more. Surely, the victims of these horrendous crimes have had all their checks in order:
- Mums cellphone number
- Dads number
- Next of Kin
- Don’t talk to strangers
- Don’t accept sweeties
- And the list goes on
So how much more can one do? The simple answer: in this case, nothing, but pray and trust in God.
Digital Footprints and Kids Safety
What is a digital footprint and why does it matter? Click here to read more.
Have you ever searched your own name on Google? Whoa! You will be surprised to find pics of you and your family, and even your dogs name attached. Then when you are scrolling through your Instagram feeds you find suggested profiles to follow. Not just any profiles. These are people you know, or knew or even just associated with. How does Google know that?
How is it that Google Maps knows exactly where you have been in the last few days, and can track your recent stops? How is it that we know so much about our neighbours cat, or the foodies’ kids and the baker’s travels?
It all comes back to status. And profiles. And our social media posts. The Google gremlins are watching, collecting data, and getting intimate with who you are. In the meantime, society is watching your posts, idolizing you, and conjuring mixed images of who you really are. Its scary. The digital footprint we leave every time we go to our phones, or the internet slowly collects to create an image of you, and your lifestyle.
And to some this may be quite a desirable image. Someone wants the same shoe you have. Or the same phone. And before we know it, things youve worked really hard for are snatched.
Mums, Dads I urge you to be more vigilant. Not only in Nerve-ember and the festive season, but always:
- be mindful of your surroundings
- be mindful of who is watching you
- be mindful of the routes you take to work, to school and more
- be mindful of your social media feeds
- be mindful of your social media followers
- And always hold your child’s hand in the mall, no matter how old they are.
- Pray and pray some more.
That’s the best we can do.
Lets be weary of what we post. Lets think clearly about our status updates and location settings. Switch to privacy. Lead a private simple life. And then pray. For surely, what has happened to the Moti brothers was beyond anyone’s control. Beyond the parents grip. Beyond human.
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