Our journey on this series of radio programmes began with an unplanned conversation regarding 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”
When I watched his interview with Oprah Winfrey on this, and his interview on TedTalk Podcast, I realised we had to address this issue
At around the same time I heard the Daily-Broadcast with Jim Daly of Focus on the Family interviewing Melanie Hempe about her research and experience on this, based upon her book Kids’ Brains & Screens Watching the Video of that disucussion was really an eye-opener, and definitely worth your time (25m)
It has been, and continues to be a really eye-opening series if you are in your 40’s or older as technology brings so many benefits to our lives and functionality. Yet – for our children, it might be a different story, and certainly will be if we dont protect them approriately, and put proper boundaries and safeguards in place. the sooner the better!
If you and are raising a family, you will be well aware that family life now is quite a change from previous generations – due in part to Technology.
We have a lot to learn, and 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 – set out by Dr Jonathan Haidt – in his New York Times Best Seller – “The Anxious Generation”
This is a summary of the content of the five programmes
In Episode 1 – “TIme Have Changed. Tech is here to stay” In this programme, Jackie and Jeff outline how the times have changed beginning in 2003 with the intoduction of high-speed internet, and all the technology that has developed since then. It has implications for life and childhood ….
The Programme includes
- It’s all relatively new (its 10 yrs since tech became immersive) – Children have grown up with Tech
- The Addictive nature of Social Media
- Attention Engineering – Technology Companies make money by keeping you on their platform
- Phone-Based childhood v’s Play-Based childrood – are experience blockers (Dr Haidt)
- Mental health is suffering – especially in childhood, anxiety increasing.
- Unbridled access to internet / social-media – exposes them to a lot of unnecessary content – in 3x main areas – drama, bullying and inappropriate content
- Parents need to be engaged to protect their children ! Damage is being caused by social media content.
In Episode 2 – “Risks, Balance and some sensible Advise” –
- The Four Foundational Harms defined by Dr Haidt in his book – 1. Social Deprivation. 2. Sleep Deprivation 3. Attention Fragmentation, and 4. Addiction
- Parents need to model the behavior they want to see in their children
- Phubbing – ignoring a compnaion in favour of a digital device – Need for digital ettiquette (to be widely understood in society)
- A good ‘balance’ recommeded is 5x times real life to 1x times screen
- Average teenagers – spending 7hrs a day on screens – (most of their available time)
- Parents need to get educated and have sensible conversations on appropriate levels of engagement with social media platforms.
- Family Digital Social Media Contract – available on DigiWise
In Episode 3 – “Dr Jonathan Haidt – The Dangers of Tech” –
The Programme includes
- Overprotective Parenting Dr Haidt / Keeping Kids ‘in’ not the best for their development – Need to allow them experience life.
- Play based childhood is needed for brain development. Life has moved indoors, away from the street. Thus ‘Four Foundational Harms’ (ref above)
- Jackie – Proves Social Media Algorithms is Brain Washing
- Dr Haidt asked Chat GPT – Published in FreePress – The Devils Strategy to destroy the next generation (definition of Social-Media)
- Jackie – gives a current expample of significant distress caused (as the person says) by Social Media.
In Episode 4 – “Healthy Steps with Tech”
We continue the conversation with our Jackie, Jeff and Isla speaking about positive steps that can be taken
The Programme includes
- What steps can parents (all of us) take
- Phones out of bedrooms at night – essential
- Dove Ad’s about the toxicity of Social-Media and damage to mental health – worth sharing and educating why these constraints are essential for protecting them
- 3x Questions to ask yourself when you pick up your phone 3x W’s (What for? / Why now? / What else?)
- Digital Age of consent in Ireland in 16 yrs old (Permission from parents required)
- Collective action with fellow parents and children of same age to follow similar rules / standards – so as to protect our children, and apply monitoring software.
- Boredom is the bedrock opportunity for creativity and immagination to thrive !
- Electronic Screen Syndrome (causing the brain to be underdeveloped) – 5x steps to help.
In Episode 5 – “Family Life and the use of Tech” –
- Family lfe is being effected and fragmented by tech. Family meals are an opportunity for meaningful dialogue and relationship building – if tech is not a centrepiece of this time together
- Family Digital Plan – setting some agreed rules for the use of Tech in the home
- Dialogue & Communication vital to getting buy-in to agreements on digital-tech use
- Parents – Get Educated and get the knowledge – so you are empowered to set some boundaries
- Find Solutions that work for you as a family
- Social “Influencers” – not always good
- Digital ettiquette & Boundaries need to be agreed – Face to face is the most helpful part of social and brain development
