Caveat: The term “onlife world” was coined by Professor Luciano Floridi. Although many parents see a difference between the online and the offline world, today, youth see it as one world, or what Professor Luciano Floridi has coined the “onlife” world. Remember, not every day needs to be a tech day, but when it is the “power of three” can help find the balance when it comes to screen activity.
As we approach the end of the 2022/23 school year, an increasing number of parents are expressing their worries about the potential for children to become overly engrossed in their technology. Once again, the concern about excessive screen time and its impact on children’s well-being and development has resurfaced, echoing the sentiments of many concerned parents. As the academic year comes to a close, the pressing issue of striking a balance between online engagement and offline activities has become a topic of significant parental discussion and concern on may parent online forums that we follow.
So, what are well-respected researchers saying specifically to youth and their technology use? – As Professor Sonia Livingstone has stated, the measurement shouldn’t be screen time, but rather their “screen activity” (1). The question should not be – “how much time is your child spending online?”, rather the question should be – “what are they doing with that time ?”, that should really matter to us as parents?
According to Dr. Sonia Livingstone, if you can answer “yes” to the following 5 questions then your child has reached an onlife screen activity balance:
- Is my child physically healthy and sleeping enough?
- In my child connecting socially with family and friends (in any form)?
- Is my child engaged with and achieving goals at school and at home?
- Is my child pursuing interests and hobbies (in any form)?
- Is my child having fun and learning in their use of digital media
Many parents tend to nostalgically reminisce about their own childhood and use those memories, emotions, and experiences as a basis for how today’s youth should spend their free time. Some parents reading this article may recall their own parents saying, “When I was your age, this is what I did during my summer vacation…” However, it’s important to acknowledge that when today’s parents were young, the internet, social media, and digital technology either didn’t exist or were highly limited in terms of accessibility and usage.
It is important to remember that the iPhone was introduced in 2007, making it only about sixteen years since its inception. This means that the current generation of youth is the first to grow up in a world where digital technology is all they have known. Consequently, trying to apply past norms and behaviours related to leisure time from our own youth holds little relevance in today’s digitally ubiquitous world of teenagers. As we communicate with parents, it is crucial to acknowledge this shift in perspective. Remember:
“When we share our concerns with our kids about their onlife world, we should do so in a way that ties into where they are today, and is relevant to their life and appeals to their intelligence and experience.”
We are not saying that parents should allow unrestrained free-range consumption of technology during the summer break, rather we are suggesting that a balanced use of technology, the internet, social media, and online gaming should be the goal.
The Power of Three:
The power of three is embedded in many aspects of our lives. In literature, for example, we have “Goldilocks and The Three Bears” whose porridge was #1 too hot, #2 too cold, or #3 just right. In sporting events like the Olympics, there are three medals that are awarded, #1 gold, #2 Silver, and #3 bronze. In Christianity, they have the Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost. In construction, a triangle with 3 equal sides is the most stable platform to build upon. This is why many bridges and buildings utilize triangles’ in their architecture, given that they provide significant structural integrity. In music, the third note of every scale provides the basic harmony that humans find pleasing.
Humans love choices, but not too many choices. Have you ever noticed that in many game shows, the contestant can pick what is behind curtain #1, curtain #2, or curtain #3? Again, demonstrating the power of three.
The purpose of this article is to propose a suggestion – let’s transform screen activity into a gamified experience using the power of three. By doing so, we can assist youth in finding a healthy balance with technology in their digital lives this summer, rather than just forcing it on them which is often a recipe for disaster.
So, how can we apply the power of three to Sonia Livingston’s concept of screen activity? First, let’s break down the use of technology by teens into three categories:
#1: Social Use
This category includes using social media to stay connected with friends via text messaging, or interacting with their peers on social networks like Instagram, or engaging in an activity they enjoy, like online gaming or watching YouTube videos.
#2: Physical / Active Use
This is where a teen can integrate technology to become more physically active both inside and outside the home using apps such as Ring Fit, an exercising action role-playing game for the Nintendo Switch, Pokémon-Go, or Geocaching using a mobile device.
#3: Creative & Educational Use
This is where youth use technology to learn coding (why just play a game when they can learn how to build one using coding), develop a personal website (create their own digital branding that they can control for sport, college, university, and job opportunities and to share their interests with others), learning how to type (which will allow you to code faster), create “how-to” videos, or to even watch educational shows and documentaries to increase their awareness of the onlife world.
Having identified these three distinct categories, let’s proceed by assigning them a ranking that is specific to daily online activity. This ranking will serve as our recommended starting point, utilizing the power of three.
#1: Creative & Educational Use (3hrs +/-)
#2: Social Use (2hrs +/-)
#3: Physical / Active Use (1hr +/-)
This adds up to a total of six hours per tech day, four hours of which are encouraging teens to become producers and creators of content, and also to become more physically active through the integration of technology; only two hours are dedicated to passive consumption to connect with friends, or for the purposes of relaxation & fun – what we like to call “digital bubble gumming”. Let’s be honest, we all need time to decompress, and technology can be a great adjunct to making this happen. However, we find that too many parents utilize technology as a consumption-based digital pacifier with their kids, which is never healthy and should be avoided this summer (2).
When introducing the idea of the “power of three” to your child, emphasize how it relates to their screen activity and not their screen time. Explain that the power of three grants them up to six hours of tech time each day, with the possibility of extending it further if approved by you as the parent. This approach will help your child comprehend the concept of maintaining a balanced approach to technology this summer and the reasons behind it.
If you consider that most youth, during the summer break, like to sleep in late and go to bed late, most will average about twelve hours of “wake” time each day. If you adopt the power of three, specific to screen activity, that means that the child still has six-plus hours of unused wake time for:
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner – which we recommend to be tech-free
- Chores – to be done before screen activity is permitted
- Engaging in other personal and family activities both inside and outside the home;
learning how to skateboard or play basketball, learning how to play the guitar, or go for a family walk, hike, bike ride, family drive (we recommend that the car should be a tech-free zone unless going on a long trip) or watching a movie together as a family without phones, iPads, or laptops present.
The allocated times for each category are not fixed and should remain flexible to accommodate the unique needs of each family. It is even possible to divide the time slots throughout the day. For instance, when it comes to creative and educational technology usage, you can designate one hour in the morning, one hour in the afternoon, and one hour in the early evening. It is worth mentioning that there may be certain days where more time is permitted for “social activity,” but this should be the exception rather than the norm for youth and younger teenagers. It is important to emphasize the focus on utilizing technology for creative and educational purposes, rather than relying on it solely as a digital babysitter or pacifier.
We place strong emphasis on the importance of including scheduled “digital sabbaticals” throughout the summer, instead of labeling them as “digital detox” days (3). These designated periods provide an opportunity for you and your child to disconnect from technology and embrace outdoor activities. Consider activities such as watching a movie, visiting a park, going fishing, stargazing at an observatory, or engaging in any other technology-free pursuits that bring joy and excitement to your child. To ensure active participation and commitment, it is crucial to plan these outings in advance and it is so important to involve your children in the decision-making process.
Once again, it’s important to clarify that not every day has to revolve around technology. However, when technology is being used, the “power of three” can serve as a helpful guideline for our children. If your child has already reached the two-hour limit for social activities, it is advisable for them to transition to utilizing technology for creative, educational, or physical purposes. Otherwise, further screen activity should only occur with parental permission. It is worth noting that such permission should be granted sparingly, making it the exception rather than the norm.
Quickly establishing a “balanced” onlife routine will be important this summer break. Before your kids make the passive social consumption of technology a habitual routine, use the power of three to help create a flexible and balanced onlife screen activity standard instead. By setting clear guidelines and expectations, parents can encourage their children to engage in a variety of activities, both online and offline, that promote learning, creativity, and social interaction this summer break. Additionally, it is equally vital to enforce certain boundaries, such as the rule of “no tech” in the bedroom, especially at night. By taking these proactive measures, parents can help their children develop a healthy relationship with technology, while enjoying a well-rounded and fulfilling summer break.
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
References:
(1) https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/parenting4digitalfuture/2020/12/16/from-screen-time-to-online-experiences/
(3) https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/do-digital-detox-programs-work-what-does-the-research-have-to-say/
