Because Teenage brains are built for connectionThe pull of the phone can be particularly difficult to resist. “Only things that seem neutral or benign can play in those adolescent vulnerabilities,” James said. “Teenagers care what their friends think, they care a lot about the state of their friends, their place in the world and how people look at them.”
However, adults also feel the attraction of persuasive design characteristics such as notifications, infinite parchment and stripes as well. Recognizing this can increase empathy and build a common land, which can change adults from a “we” to “and them” mentality when it comes to technology.
To help students notice how technology can influence their thought patterns, the center created a glossary of Seven thought trapsDrawn from Cognitive behavioral therapy. These include “reading mind”, “personalization” and “thinking all or nothing”. Just learning about these traps can make them easier to handle. “Our hope is to open a bigger conversation about some of the psychological vulnerabilities that we all have,” James said. “We can recognize that part of what we are reading may not be real.” Young people are also encouraged to be incorrectly when they recognize that they are falling into the thought patterns when they see what evidence they have and ask those who would give a friend who would give a friend who is a noble spell like the same as the same as the same.
Start with values, not applications
When children look like stressed or attached to your screensMany parents start asking: “What does Instagram have?” Or “Why does Tiktok attract you?” James recommended a different approach that focuses on the needs of children instead of technology. A useful tool is the Value classification activitythat asks students to select personal values such as honesty, creativity or justice and reflect on how technology helps or hinders those values. “And in some cases, with the same value, it can be a bit of both,” James explained.
This type of reflection It makes room for the student agency. Instead of telling him what matters, young people can name what is important for the subject. And that often motivates more significant conversations. James also highlights a study in which researchers analyzed design tricks such as notifications and emerging ads using values such as Framework. “They launched the connection between these characteristics and design values such as autonomy, justice and justice that adolescents tend to worry,” James said. He pointed out that highlighting values such as autonomy and justice is usually an effective motivator for students because it does not mean what to do if their parents or their devices.
Technological habits, not embarrassing technology
Many students already feel in conflict with their relationship with screens. In the interviews, they told James things like: “I do not want to look back in my childhood and think that I wasted it in a useless game” or “My friends are always glued to their phones and I too. And I hate him.”
To help children feel less alone and more empowered, the center created the Challenge of technological habits. Students come together and interview each other Using a guided worksheetStarting with questions such as: “What is a technological habit for which you feel good?” Leading with a positive question signs to students that we see the good things that are doing everything to take care of their digital well -being, James said.
Then, they reflect on a habit that they want to change, which may include verifying a certain less application or using it differently. Students create a five -day plan, rainfall alternatives and identify someone to hold the subject responsible. Crucially, students choose the objective themselves. A student, for example, wanted to continue using Snapchat, but reduced the check of her boyfriend’s location. Its objective was not to give up, but to use the application in a way that would be better aligned with its values.
