This series of radio programmes is married to the Series – The Immersive World of Technology, and the concerns around this. Those concerns have been well set out by New York University Business Professor Dr Jonathan Haidt – in his New York Times Best Seller – “The Anxious Generation – How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an epidemic of Mental Illness”
The more we got into this subject, the more urgent it became that we make these programmes to allow everybody, especially for parents who have the care of children, to have this information and to judge for themselves how they should respond appropriately.
It has been, and continues to be a really eye-opening series. The fact that addiction is now normal, and the Apps on our phones are deliberately designed to be addictive (“Attention Engineering” is the technical term for it) – should be a clarion call to listen carefully. For our children, we need to protect them approriately, and put proper boundaries and safeguards in place. the sooner the better!
We have a lot to learn, I did!. These programmes are here to help you with that learning and discovery process.
We are joined by the Directors of Digiwise – Jackie O’Regan from Limerick and Jeff Schloss from Co Down, and our own Isla Jeffers, working with Youth Services, in the YMCA in Cork City.
They were interviewed by our own Stephen Cardy following earlier discussions with them about the immersive world of technology, and the concerns around this.
This is a summary of the content of the five programmes
In Episode 1 – “Protecting Your Brain – Tech Can Be Addictive” In this programme, Jackie and Jeff outline the addictive nature of the Apps on our phones, and how they are intentionally designed to be addictive
The Programme includes
- The Slot Macine effect of tech apps leading to Addictive Behavior
- Protect your child’s developing brain
- The power of persuasive design
- The potenial that is being lost with almost all available time being spent on Apps and Games and so natural talent and gifting and skills are not being developed at all.
- Goodness knows how much loss of opportunity is happening
In Episode 2 – “Mental Health and Sleep” –
- Jeff and Jackie unpack the research showing the impact of tech on mental health
- 7 hrs a day being spent on social media (average) means Social Media is the greatest means of shaping attitudes and mindsets in society (no longer the family)
- THe significance of sleep and its importance to our mental health
- Positive alternatives to the excessive use of screens and devices, where parents and children become actively engaged in real life together.
- Family Digital Social Media Contract – available on DigiWise
In Episode 3 – “Addiction and the Misuse of Tech”
The Programme includes
- Jeff Schloss and Jackie O’Regan of Digiwise looking at some of the positive measures parents and adults can adopt to build a strong family, and overcome some of the risks and dangers attached to the overuse of teck and the many social media apps that are a real risk – especially to our teens and their under-developed brains – and of course to adults
- Jackies conversation with a yung adult whose mother has taken Jackies advise on limited smartphone access. That young adult thanks Jackie
- 10 year ABC Research Study on brain development
- Also, ‘over-protective’ parentiing cal ead to a lack of resilience
- Parents need to set the ground rules early for the use of tech
- 5x proofs of Addiction
In Episode 4 – “AI with Tech – Adds Another Gear”
We continue the conversation with our Jackie, Jeff and Isla who unpack the latest development with AI and Social Media combining to give an individually designed experience for the individual, further engaging and helping us as individuals in the use of the technology. It also has substantial risks to us, in de-personalising our real world, and creating a more appealing fake world, which is not rooted in reality and real life
The Programme includes
- Developing AI will tailor content more and more – giving stronger connection + attachment
- What AI is and what it is not and therefore how we and our children or family might engage appropriately with AI as we move forward with this fast developing technology
- AI – is – “Prediction at scale”
- AI Counselling continues to evolve. This needs vigilance and real conversations
In Episode 5 – “Essential Steps – Growth and Positive Change” –
- We discuss the options of spending a great deal of your life in unproductive ‘doom scrolling’ (as its called) on your phone, or you can invest your time is developing relationships, …. skills,…. talents …… and or knowledge ….. in a whole range of areas
- You have just one life – this life – and how you invest it – early on especially – has profound implications for the rest of your days
- Why parents need to be proactive in protecting their children from harmful risks
- Its tough being a parent and at times tough decisions have to be made to protect your child from danger, but as Jeff has just said, saving them from unnecessary drama and rotting your brain with inappropriate content – is good parenting and is always worth doing
