In our parent education programs and writings, we have emphasized for years that parenting your teen’s online privacy, security, and safety extends beyond merely installing parental controls and monitoring their activities. It’s more about providing the right age-appropriate technology at the right time while fostering an environment where your kids can develop critical thinking skills and make informed decisions in a manner suitable for their unique emotional and psychological development. (1).
Recently, we watched a documentary about Cirque du Soleil and learned about their mission statement:
“To create, produce, and perform works of art. To invoke the imagination, to provoke the senses, and to evoke the emotions of people around the world.” (2)
Inspired by Cirque du Soleil’s principles to invoke, provoke, and evoke, here are some thoughts to help parents and caregivers guide their teens toward becoming responsible and digital savvy participants in today’s onlife world based on these principles.
Invoke: Highlighting the Importance of Digital Literacy
Begin by sharing relatable online stories that can resonate with your teen’s experiences. For instance, talk about a high school student who faced cyberbullying and overcame it by learning about digital safety measures, or mention a case where a teen narrowly avoided being defrauded out of a significant amount of money. (3) Use examples of teens who have made a positive impact online through digital literacy. (4)(5) Present these scenarios as stories to help your teen visualize themselves being positive creators and producers of online content.
Engage your teen in practical exercises that involve critical thinking and problem-solving. Set up challenges where they need to identify fake news articles, spot phishing emails, or identify a possible sextortion attempt. (6) Before allowing them to download a new app, have them engage in completing Jocelyn Brewers “Due Diligence” report, that will help them think more critically about the privacy challenges associated with the app. (7)
Harness your teen’s passion for technology and creativity by encouraging their participation in online projects such as creating their own blog, podcast, web site, or learning how to code. (8) These activities will not only enhance their digital literacy skills, but also provide opportunities to explore their creative and technological interests.
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. This will help them to think more critically and to make good onlife decisions.
Provoke: Encouraging Critical Thinking
Provoke your teen’s curiosity by encouraging them to think critically about what they encounter online. (9) Engage with them using open ended questions about their onlife activities such as:
- How can you determine if this information is credible?
- What might be the potential risks of sharing this personal information?
- What reasons do you think this ad has for targeting you?
These questions prompt your teen to analyze and evaluate the information they encounter, fostering a habit of critical thinking. Create hypothetical “what if” scenarios or discuss current events related to internet safety. (10) For instance, ask, “How would you respond if you saw a classmate being cyberbullied or being sextorted?” These discussions help your teen to think on their feet and prepare them for real-world situations that they could encounter online.
Show your teen how their online activities create a digital dossier that can have a positive or negative effect on future post-secondary or job opportunities. (11) Use tools that let them see their online presence from an outsider’s perspective, such as Googling their name while using “incognito” or “private viewing” to remove a search filter bubble to see what a university or job recruiter would see. This exercise can provoke an understanding of the long-term impact of their digital actions and promote more mindful online behavior.
Evoke: Inspiring Responsible Digital Citizenship
Demonstrate responsible digital behavior in your own online activities. (12) Show your teen how you use privacy settings, manage your online reputation, and engage positively on social media. By modeling these behaviors, you can evoke a sense of responsibility in them. (13) Share your thought process when adjusting privacy settings (14) or deciding what to post online, highlighting the importance of these actions.
Encourage open and honest discussions about their online experiences. Make it clear that they can come to you with any concerns or questions without fear of judgment or punishment. This evocation of trust helps your teen feel more comfortable seeking your guidance and help when needed. Share your own experiences, both positive and negative, to create a safe and supportive environment for these conversations. Embark on the onlife journey together. (15)
Recognize and celebrate when your teen uses technology in a positive and responsible way.(16) Whether it’s creating a project for school, participating in online community service, or helping a friend navigate a digital issue, acknowledging their good behavior reinforces these actions. Praise their efforts and highlight the impact of their responsible behavior, evoking a sense of pride and responsibility.
By applying the principles of “invoke,” “provoke,” and “evoke,” parents can guide their teens toward becoming more responsible and digitally literate participants in today’s onlife world. Invoking the importance of digital literacy through relatable stories and practical exercises helps teens see the relevance of online safety. Provoking their curiosity with challenging questions and real-world scenarios encourages critical thinking and prepares them for potential online threats. Finally, evoking responsible digital citizenship by modeling positive behavior and celebrating their achievements fosters a sense of responsibility and pride.
Together, the principles of invoke, provoke, and evoke create an approach to digital literacy and internet safety that is parent lead, thus empowering and helping teens to navigate the onlife world in a more confident and safer way when they go it alone.
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Feelings, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Technology vs No Technology!
PS – for those who have never seen a Cirque de Soleil’s show, you are missing out on an entertainment and athletic experience second to none!
References:
1/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/a-transformational-approach-to-parenting-in-todays-onlife-world/
2/https://sportperformancecentres.org/sites/default/files/5_Cirque_du_Soleil_Bernard_Petiot.pdf
3/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/a-mother-acts-to-unmask-a-potential-scam-that-targeted-their-teen/
4/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/most-teens-using-tech-social-media-in-a-positive-way-case-in-point/
6/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/sextortion/
7/ https://ln5.sync.com/dl/83a3420f0/pwg67r4b-5hun4g38-4mxjgfse-yxwqhgzs
8/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/four-skills-to-help-develop-teen-digital-creators/
10/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/the-impact-of-parental-phone-usage-on-teens-setting-an-example/
11/ https://ln5.sync.com/dl/83a3420f0/pwg67r4b-5hun4g38-4mxjgfse-yxwqhgzs
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