Benard Kibet 

The Bible tells us in Matthew 6:22-23 that: “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” 

Our eyes are the gates to our hearts, and whatever we watch with them will take root in our hearts.

It is important to watch good, wholesome content rather than filling our hearts with things that are not Christ-like.

The influence of the media on the psychosocial development of children is profound.

Thus, it is important for physicians to discuss with parents their child’s exposure to media and to provide guidance on age-appropriate use of all media. 

Covid-19 is having both short-term and far-reaching implications on our families, friends and colleagues.

It also has an impact on our work, and will affect the achievement of our shared vision of a world without violence against children. 

As the virus continues to spread globally, we are all facing multiple new stresses, including physical and psychological health risks, school and business closures, family confinement, isolation and economic vulnerability. 

Through all of that, children are particularly vulnerable. As the number of children using the Internet increases, addressing these risks is an important public policy objective.

Governments face many challenges when developing and implementing policies to protect children online: how to mitigate risks without reducing children’s opportunities and benefits; and how to prevent risks while preserving fundamental values.

With Covid-19, the Internet is now essential to everyone but it has its own disadvantages.

What we watch sticks in our memory and can even have an impact on our child’s brain development.

Most of a child’s brain development happens in the first few years of his or her life. As a result, children who watch TV at such a young age, are at higher risk for Attention Deficit Disorder and obesity from sitting too much.  

Parents and caregivers should monitor and guide their children on the content they consume on TV, radio and online platforms.

Government organisations such as Kenya Film Classification Board,  should keep on with the great work of collaboration and public education, because they have the mandate to regulate content.

Clean and good content helps educate our youth in becoming good citizens and a great generation. 

With this, national peace and unity are foundational to national development and must be pursued by all means with how we teach our children and youth. 

It is a collective responsibility to protect our children from the multiplicity of information channels that can destroy their moral values. 

Remember that guarding our hearts and minds is critical to our lives, and our walk with Christ.

Proverbs 4:23-27 states: “Above everything else, guard your heart. Everything you do comes from it.

Don’t speak with twisted words. Keep evil talk away from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead. Keep looking right in front of you.

Think carefully about the paths that your feet walk on. Always choose the right ways. Don’t turn to the right or left. Keep your feet from the path of evil.” — The writer is a communication expert —[email protected]