In a interview with Zev Brenner on Talkline this past Motzei Shabbos, Rabbi Osher Shapiro explained how the internet is not the reason for the ever growing problem of at risk teens that plagues society.
Rabbi Shapiro, who lives in Stamford Hill London, is the son of the Naroler Rebbe Rabbi Berish Shapiro, in addition to being a well known educator and founder of Kol Bonayich, a outreach organization in England.
In fact, Rabbi Shapiro placed the blame for the younger generation’s fascination with the internet squarely on the shoulders of those who issued internet bans and said that the act of banning something such as the internet or a concert only increases its appeal.
According to Rabbi Shapiro the internet, like the telephone, the radio or the cell phone, is an instrument that was, at first, met with great trepidation by many in the Jewish community, but when used properly can become an integral and appropriate part of our lives.
AUDIO: Interview starts at min. 5:15
Once your kid gets a little older – he will race to the internet, b/c you have deprived him of it.
With all my respect for Reb Osher whom I know personally.There is no doubt that the internet is a most powerful and dangerous tool and just as when my 6 year old will pick up my plugged in hammer drill I will snatch it from his hand before he harms himself so will I ensure that my children have no access to the web at whatever personal incovenience that will cause me, because I cannot take the risk of them harming themselves. Whoever tries to brush aside the terrible risks involved in the Web by quoting that we have to… Read more »
Parents have to allow there kids to be free. Kids cannot be caged up. They need to feel that you trust them. They cannot have filtered computers – that don’t allow them to go on websites they want to. If the website is blocked, they will run to anywhere else they can get internet! you need to provide them with the background and strength to overcome themselves and not go onto that website. And it needs to be their decision, not yours to control – what they use it for. If you go up to your child and present them… Read more »
1. It is NOT always the parents fault!!! I love my son to pieces – showed him unlimited amount of love. He went off the Derech for OTHER reasons NOT A LACK OF LOVE and even during that time, which was so difficult – i couldn’t sleep at night sometimes but in all the time he went off i still loved him UNCONDITIONALLY – even when i heard the sound of that shaver in the bathroom and my heart would shatter into a thousand pieces every time – even when he stayed in his room and would not come join… Read more »
do you relize that whoever is reading this article or posting on this article is ON THE INTERNET?!? how can yo say it is the problem if your on the internet yourself????
This dude is so smart!!! He’s Brittish, that’s why. Brits always sound smart even if they say something stupid. But he at least said something smart. I think. 🙂 hehehe
this guy doesn’t know that he’s talking about. sooo not. INTERNET is THE poision that ruins the child. its like saying that someone who just drank poision and died CHV”SH didnt die from the poision. just saying
safeeyes.com
I used it for 5 years, its totally headache -free. You can also alocate how much time a family member can use the computer. Costs about $50/year, definetely worth it.
Does anyone know of any good filters?
The internet is a power like electricity. “Questionable” content is “questionable”, was/is and unfortunately will always be available so long as we are in golus. Using the internet for the wrong things is like using the light of your home to see the same stuff in print. the internet made it more convenient? So did mass transit! So did the highway system… You can’t ban electricity. You can’t ban internet. You CAN teach morals. You CAN model making mature choices. You CAN teach, by example, how to live a life that does not give in to every whim. Am I… Read more »
Internet is the most dangerous thing for every jews soul. You would just hope that most adults are able to stay on the straight and narrow. You can not rely on that for children and teens. Go to TorahCafe.com and listen to Dr Twersky’s speech on the dangers of the internet.
its the internet killing everybody its worse than tv
No Lubavitcher or Chossid had TV in their homes.
The Rebbe on the same token would get internet Koshered because internet has TELEVISION.
I don’t know if the internet is THE problem or not, but it is definitely A problem.
Anyone who has internet in their house MUST have proper (real proper) filters, and even with filters, the computer should be in an open, public area of the home, where anyone can be a Yoitzeh V’nichnas. Without these two conditions, it’s practically like giving a child a bunch of magazines, some Jewish, some Non-Jewish, some Kefira, and some complete filth (let’s face it most websites (over 50%) are filth.) and saying here, you make the right choice.
Plain common sense.
there are obviously sites where teens (and adults) don’t belong. and it is too easy to reach these sites (accidentally or deliberately). If a home has internet, and has children and has no filter attached, it is equal to HANDING YOUR KIDS MAGAZINES WITH EXPLICIT MATERIAL, AND WORSE. Even the best, most Chassidish kids are normal. ANd normal means going to these sites. If you are a parent saying “not my kid” you are absolutely, without question, and most certainly fooling yourself. If you doubt me, talk to your child’s teachers.
I am not sure anyone can know what is the problem. TV is also not THE problem, and the ban was placed and it is still in effect.
Personally, I don’t think having Internet is an Aveirah. It’s all over my house. But to say it is not THE problem and ignore its problems sound a bit naive to me.
Finally someone with sense
Being someone who also works with teenagers I have found one of the biggest issues that we have to deal with is some of the parents of these children. From a very young age these children hear their parents curse out their schools, teachers, the gabboyim in shul the rabbonim in the community etc. What do you think that this causes when the children grow up with this? I was once in shul and I heard a father call his sons Rosh yeshiva by a nickname, poke fun at the Mashpia in the Yeshiva and openly speak badly about one… Read more »
nice to see at least one voice stating the obvious. except i don’t agree that making it treif makes the problem worse. people need to learn how to make choices, not be told to avoid them. true one should not create the ability to trip, but something like internet is there anyway. the real issue is that leaders and educators don’t have the creativity and stimulation available to counter the internet. their offering of old-style stuff falls limp when compared to that which is avaialble digitally today. the few who are making hi-class educational stuff and who embrace technology do… Read more »
i cant wait either! lol 😉
kids are in homes with “hidden sholom bayis” issues. they need love, they need attention and THEY NEED PARENTS WHO ARE WORKING OUT THEIR OWN ISSUES. that is why kids are filling in gaps.
Yossi Jacobson has talked about it too.
You live by example. You want your kid to say Brachos out loud, then you have to say them out loud, etc.
He’s right. It’s a tricky thing raising a teen. If you forbid everything they’ll rebel, but if you give them too much room there’ll be no rules and they’ll still be “at risk”. So what do you do?
lets keep this discussion positive if you dont agree dont make fun
moshiach now
good that he write’s “internet is not THE problem” b/c there is still a problem