For decades, abstinence-based programs have been the go-to strategy to address various youth and teen societal challenges, from substance abuse to smoking and sexual health. Campaigns like “Just Say No to Drugs,” anti-smoking abstinence messaging, and sex education programs promoting abstinence-only approaches were designed with the best intentions – to protect youth from harm. However, the results of these efforts have shown that abstinence-based messaging often falls short of its goals.
Today, as conversations around technology use and teens escalate, we are witnessing a resurgence of abstinence-based messaging and campaigns – this time in the form of “delay access to cellphones and technology” and “ban social media for youth” until a certain age. Drawing from history, it is worth asking whether this strategy will succeed or whether it is destined to follow the same path of ineffectiveness.
The D.A.R.E. program, widely implemented in the 1980s and 1990s, emphasized “Just Say No” as the cornerstone of its anti-drug abstinence based messaging. However, multiple studies found that D.A.R.E. had little to no long-term impact on reducing drug use among teens. (1)(2)(3)(4) Why? It ignored the complexities of peer pressure, curiosity, and the socio-economic factors that contribute to substance use. Simplifying the issue to a binary choice, either you abstain or you fail, did not equip teens with the critical thinking skills they needed to navigate real-world situations surrounding drug use.
Similarly, early anti-smoking efforts often relied on scare tactics and abstinence-based approaches. Campaigns showed graphic images of diseased lungs and warned youth to “never start smoking.” Yet, smoking rates among teens continued to rise during these campaigns. (5) It wasn’t until harm reduction strategies and education on long-term health consequences were implemented that smoking rates began to decline.
Lastly, during the 1980s and 1990s, abstinence-only based sexual health programs became a central focus. These programs discouraged discussions about safer sex and condom use, often emphasizing moral judgment over practical education. The result? Higher rates of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections in areas where abstinence-only education dominated. Comprehensive sex education harm reduction strategies, which acknowledged the realities of teen behaviour and provided harm-reduction tools, proved far more effective in reducing risks. (6)(7)(8)
Today, we see the conversation around teens and technology echoing these past abstinence-based strategies. Messages like “delay access to cellphones” and “ban social media for youth” are gaining traction, driven by fears of screen addiction, mental health challenges, and exposure to harmful content. While “some” of the concerns are valid, the solution of abstinence, is unlikely to work for several reasons:
- Just as teens were naturally curious about drugs, smoking, and sex, they are equally curious about technology and social media. Completely banning or delaying access often backfires, leading to covert use or an inability to self-regulate when access is eventually granted.
- Abstinence from technology does not teach teens how to use it responsibly to create resilience. Instead, it delays their exposure to the very tools they will need to navigate adulthood. In today’s onlife world, this can put them at a significant disadvantage.
- The allure of fitting in with peers remains a powerful motivator for teens. When most of their friends have smartphones or are on social media, abstinence can isolate them socially, leading to resentment and even rebellion.
- Just as “Just Say No” oversimplified drug use, abstinence-based cellphone campaigns reduce complex issues like screen use and online safety to a binary solution. This ignores the nuances of individual circumstances and the potential benefits technology can offer, such as educational tools, creative outlets, and social connections.
History has shown us that age appropriate education and harm reduction are far more effective than abstinence based approaches. When it comes to cellphones and social media, teens, parents, caregivers, and educators here are some ideas for consideration:
- Help teens understand the benefits and risks of technology – something called digital literacy. Equip them with the skills to critically evaluate content, recognize online manipulation, and set healthy boundaries. (9)(10)(11)
- Teens learn from observing adults. Demonstrating balanced technology use in your own life sets a powerful example. (12)(13)
- Rather than an outright ban, introduce technology gradually with age-appropriate boundaries. For example, allow access to educational apps before social media. (14)
- Create an environment where teens feel comfortable discussing their online experiences, challenges, and questions.
- It’s not about how much time they spend online but how they spend that time. Encourage productive, creative, and educational uses of technology. (15)
The lessons of history clearly demonstrate the limitations of abstinence-based approaches in addressing complex societal challenges, especially when it comes to youth and teens. Whether it was the ineffectiveness of “Just Say No” campaigns in reducing drug use, the failure of early anti-smoking efforts, or the unintended consequences of abstinence-only sex education, these strategies consistently fell short because they ignored the complexities of human behaviour, curiosity, and peer influence.
As we face the growing concerns surrounding teens and technology, it is imperative that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past. Banning or delaying access to cellphones and social media may seem like a straightforward solution, but it risks alienating teens, stifling their ability to develop real-world skills, and oversimplifying the multifaceted issues at play – known as a Nirvana Fallacy. (16)
Instead, we must embrace harm reduction and education as guiding principles. By fostering digital literacy, modelling balanced technology use, introducing age-appropriate technology and boundaries, and creating open channels for communication, we can equip teens with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate the digital world responsibly and safely.
The goal is not to shield teens from technology but to prepare them for it. By focusing on how they engage with technology rather than simply restricting access, we empower them to thrive in an increasingly connected world.
The abstinence-based messaging of the past failed because it sought to deny teen curiosity and oversimplified complex issues. As we confront new challenges with teens and technology, we must resist the urge to repeat those mistakes. Instead, let’s embrace strategies that educate, empower, and prepare our youth to thrive in an increasingly digital world. By learning from history, we can ensure a better future for the next generation.
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
References:
1/ https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1999-03346-017
2/ https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/152055NCJRS.pdf
3/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1448384/
4/ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0022427894031001001
5/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1116786/
6/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17885460/
7/ https://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(17)30297-5/fulltext
9 /https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/a-transformational-approach-to-parenting-in-todays-onlife-world/
13/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/why-kids-struggle-to-connect-with-tech-distracted-parents/
15/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/why-screen-value-is-more-important-than-screen-time/
