Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Vine, Yik Kak, Facebook--it's hard to keep up with all of the options available for social media usage. Over the winter break I spent some time with my nieces and nephews and heard (and saw) how they are using many of these tools. The Snapchats were flying (after waiting a prescribed amount of time before responding that was greater than or equal to the amount of time it took the sender to reply) and although they were away from home, they were never disconnected from their friends. And I have to say, what I saw was not anything that was too concerning to me. But I know I saw what I was allowed to see.
I watched an interesting segment called "Being Thirteen: The Secret World of Teens" by Anderson Cooper on CNN over break. One observation made (after working with a panel of middle school students) was that really they are not addicted to social media, they are addicted to each other. That made me stop and think. I think I've had this backwards for a long time. Perhaps my opinions are shaped by watching a group of teenagers in the same room who are all staring intently at their phones often even Snapchatting with each other while in the same room. (My nieces and nephews did this as well--often times to communicate something funny without the rest of the adults in the room knowing!) But perhaps this constant connection is more about the need and access to always be connected to their friends than the actual tool they are using.
This segment was eye opening to say the least. It certainly made me think I wanted to share it with our PTSC parents as most parents that I talk to about this don't really realize the depth of what is happening online and don't even know where to begin to monitor their child's usage. Perhaps this group of kids selected for this segment were ones that would up the shock value for what they were posting online, or perhaps it is more normal than what we think. Either way, it is something every parent should watch and consider for themselves how to monitor their child's online activities. Are you checking what your child is Tweeting or posting on Instagram? How do you handle Snapchat?
DISCLAIMER: Anderson Cooper does not really filter much of what he discovers. Watching this is not for the faint of heart--and the content shared is real, and often highly offensive. I don't often share things like this--but that's how important I believe it is for parents to see this.
What I walked away contemplating most was how we can create life-affirming opportunities for community for our students. If I think back to my teenage years--I can certainly remember some of my own behavior which was not so life-affirming. What I also remember were the great adult mentors that I had shaping my beliefs about the right and wrong ways to interact with others. I know those mentors made a difference in my life. For whom are you making a difference?