Chronixx blasts parents for exposing kids’ struggles

Reggae sensation Chronixx is receiving support for calling out parents who he said were exposing their children for "clicks" when pressured with tasks from the education system,

In a post shared by the Likes artiste on Sunday, he lamented that some parents were posting videos of their children crying about their schoolwork, saying that the material was causing them pain.

"I check the comments section and people laughing and it baffles me how this could be so funny to us. I think it is a double tragedy and at best...a double failure. Failure on the side of the parents recording them for clicks and total failure of the education system that is beating down our children to such a low emotional mental state," the post read in part.

Professor Emerita Carolyn Cooper, in expressing similar sentiments as Chronixx, told THE STAR that some of these acts can be challenged as child abuse.

"I completely agree with Chronixx. Parents should not exploit their children by exposing their suffering on social media. Parents should protect their children from harm. They should not underestimate the negative impact of turning their children into entertainment for unscrupulous adults. Parents should be aware of the fact that child abuse is perpetrated in many ways," said Cooper.

Chronixx further highlighted what he considers a burden that the modern education system places on children while using technology to take away from their physical and social development, disallowing them from embracing their natural cognitive skills.

"Little children should be happy and enthusiastic about learning," he said. "For them, it's impossible to distinguish between learning and playing. If it's not fun and if the adults are not enthusiastic about it as well...it's gonna cause effects far worse than what they a crying about in dem videos. Let the children play and 'fuljoy' their eagerness to develop physically and expand their sense perceptions," the singer urged.

He opined that computers, in the first crucial years of children's development, deadens children's senses.

"It takes away any chance of them learning to solve problems naturally and regulate their little emotions," he said.

Under the Online Safety Amendment Act 2024, which aims to protect children from harm, Australia has implemented a world-first law, banning social media use for under-16s on major platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. This law, which goes into effect on December 10, will see companies facing huge fines for non-compliance.

While giving credit to all "hard-working" parents and communities who try to balance giving children a sound education and a happy home, while paying attention to how they are being developed, Chronixx suggested that "this can't be the state's responsibility [as] education is primarily a household responsibility".

Cooper, a former professor of cultural studies at The University of the West Indies, Mona, said that a child's home should be a nurturing place.

"Parents are the first teachers of children and should take seriously their duty to inspire them to be healthy and happy learners," she stated. She added that "Chronixx's insightful post is an excellent example of the wisdom that many popular artistes manifest. They take seriously their role as [musical] teachers."