This year, we have seen a significant social and political movement that has emerged across North America to ban cellphones in schools and restrict access to cellphones, technology, the internet, and social media for youth under the age of 16. While this is touted by some to be the best “protection” strategy for parents and caregivers to minimize distractions and online harms with our kids, how does it “empower” youth to develop digital resilience as they grow up in a world where technology is ubiquitous and often plays an integral part in their daily lives? We have consistently argued that providing age-appropriate access to technology, combined with age-appropriate digital literacy education, is the most effective strategy for protecting and empowering youth – the right tech and the right time. This approach helps keep kids safer in today’s online and offline world, both inside and outside the home.
Digital literacy is more than just banning device, age-gating social media, or teaching online safety, it’s also about teaching our kids to become critical thinkers in their use of technology. By adopting this approach, we create the “light bulb aha moments” that resonate and stick with our kids.
Darren loves to integrate his extensive studies of the martial arts and combatives into the context of digital literacy education – he argues that the concept of Yin and Yang that is taught in the martial arts, can also be applied to illustrate the balance between protection and empowerment when it comes to technology, the internet and our kids:
Yin (Protection) – Represents the safeguarding of children and youth from potential online risks. This includes measures like technology bans, setting appropriate boundaries, using parental controls, and educating about the dangers of cyberbullying, privacy breaches, and exposure to inappropriate content. Protection is about creating a safe online environment and ensuring that young users are shielded from harm.
Yang (Empowerment) – Represents the aspects of digital literacy aimed at empowering children and youth to use technology confidently and responsibly. This includes teaching critical thinking, encouraging self-regulation, promoting positive online behaviors, and fostering skills to create and share content responsibly. Empowerment is about giving young users the age – appropriate tools, access, and knowledge to navigate the onlife world effectively and independently.
Just as Yin and Yang are interconnected and interdependent on one another, protection and empowerment in digital literacy education must also be balanced, interconnected, and interdependent. Overemphasizing protection might lead to restrictions that hinder learning and growth, while focusing solely on empowerment without adequate safeguards could expose young users to unnecessary risks. A balanced approach ensures that while children are protected, they are also empowered to use age-appropriate technology in balanced ways that enhance their development and resilience.
By integrating both protection and empowerment into digital literacy education, parents and caregivers can create a balanced environment where children are not only safer, but also capable of making informed and responsible decisions in their own digital lives. One way to do this is through what is commonly known as the “Socratic” method of teaching digital literacy.
The Socratic method of teaching is a form of cooperative argumentative dialogue between parent and child, based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and draw out ideas and underlying presuppositions. Named after the classical Greek philosopher Socrates, this method involves parents or caregivers engaging their children in discussions by posing a series of thoughtful and open-ended questions. This strategic use of questioning guides children to examine their beliefs, evaluate the validity of their arguments, and delve deeper into the subject matter, fostering a better understanding through inquiry.
Unlike traditional teaching methods that often involve a one-way transfer of information, the Socratic method emphasizes two-way dialogue. This interactive exchange of ideas between the parent, caregiver, and child allows for the exploration of different viewpoints. Through this dynamic discussion, youth learn to articulate their thoughts and respond to others, creating a collaborative learning environment.
The primary goal of the Socratic method is to develop critical thinking skills by challenging youth to question assumptions, identify contradictions, and explore the implications of their ideas, thereby encouraging deeper thought surrounding their use of technology. Through systematic questioning, the method aids in clarifying and defining key concepts by breaking down complex ideas into simpler, age-appropriate components. This in-depth exploration helps youth gain a better and more complete understanding of digital literacy.
One of the distinctive features of the Socratic method is its focus on self-discovery. Rather than simply providing answers, the parent or caregiver guides their child to uncover answers for themselves. This approach empowers youth to reason independently and draw their own conclusions, fostering a sense of ownership over their learning process rather than being force fed the information by the parent or caregiver.
Reflective thinking is another critical aspect of the Socratic method, encouraging youth to reflect on their beliefs and consider alternative perspectives – you might be surprised at the beliefs your child has about technology and the internet. This reflection helps them develop a well-rounded understanding of the topic and promotes openness to new ideas. The Socratic method also requires active participation from parents, caregivers, and the youth, ensuring they are not passive recipients of information but active contributors to the learning process. This engagement ensures that youth are more invested in their digital literacy education, as they are constantly involved in the dialogue and exploration of ideas with their parents or caregivers together.
By integrating these principles into the home, the Socratic method creates a dynamic and interactive learning environment. It not only enhances a child’s understanding of the material, but it also equips them with essential skills in critical thinking, communication, and independent reasoning – in other words, it helps to build onlife resiliency as they mature!
So how can we apply this to digital literacy educations in our home? How about asking some of these questions as a starting point:
How Does My Behavior on Social Media Train the Algorithms?
Teaching Point – Social media platforms use complex algorithms to determine what content appears in a user’s feed. These algorithms learn from user behavior, such as likes, shares, comments, and the amount of time spent on certain posts. When youth understand that every interaction on social media teaches the algorithm about their preferences, they can begin to see how their own actions shape their online experience. Encourage them to reflect on:
- What types of content do they engage with most?
- How might their interactions influence the diversity of information they receive?
- Are they aware of the echo chambers that might form as a result?
How Does a Social Media App Make Money?
Teaching Point – Most social media apps generate revenue through advertising. They collect vast amounts of data from users, which allows advertisers to target specific demographics with personalized ads. To make money, these platforms need users to stay engaged and provide data. Discuss with youth:
- What types of data do they think social media companies collect about them?
- How comfortable are they with this level of data collection?
- Do they understand the trade-offs between free access to social media and their personal data being used for profit?
What Techniques Do Social Media Apps Use to Gain My Attention?
Teaching Point – Social media platforms are designed to capture and retain users’ attention. They employ various techniques, commonly known as “dark patterns”, such as:
- Infinite scrolling: Ensuring there is always more content to view.
- Notifications: Drawing users back to the app with alerts about new likes, comments, or posts.
- Social validation: Using likes and shares to trigger dopamine responses, making the experience addictive.
Help youth identify these techniques and consider:
- How do these features make them feel?
- Are there times when they feel more in control of their usage, and times when they feel less so?
- What strategies can they use to manage their screen time and attention?
How Can Social Media Help Me Find and Belong to a Community?
Teaching Point – Despite its challenges, social media can be a powerful tool for building and maintaining communities. It allows students to connect with others who share their interests, values, and experiences. Encourage them to explore:
- What kind of positive communities have they found online?
- What kind of negative communities have they found online?
- How do these communities support their interests and well-being?
- What are some ways they can contribute positively to these communities?
What Stories Do the Content I Post Online Tell About Who I Am and What I Value?
Teaching point – Every post, comment, and photo shared on social media contributes to a digital narrative about the user. This narrative can influence how others perceive them and how they perceive themselves. Guide students to reflect on:
- What values and interests do they want to communicate through their online presence?
- How might their posts affect their relationships and as well as their college, sporting, or employment opportunities in the future?
- Are they being authentic in their online interactions, and how does that align with their offline identity?
The delicate balance between protection and empowerment in today’s online world requires a nuanced yin/yang approach. Simply banning cell phones or restricting internet and social media access for those under 16 fails to equip young people with the essential skills needed to navigate the online world safely and responsibly as they grow older. Instead, we argue that the method of teaching digital literacy outlined in this article—emphasizing critical thinking, dialogue, and self-discovery—offers an effective and better strategy for building digital resiliency.
By engaging youth in thoughtful discussions about their online behaviors, the financial motivations behind social media, and the psychological techniques used to capture their attention by tech and social media platforms, parents and caregivers can help them develop a deeper understanding of today’s onlife world. Encouraging youth to reflect on the positive aspects of social media, such as community building and self-expression, can empower them to use technology in ways that are both safer and enriching while mitigating potential risks. This comprehensive yin/yang approach not only protects youth but also empowers them to become resilient, informed, and thoughtful users of technology in today’s onlife world.
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
