StC News
Interview with Katie Greer, Internet/Technology Safety Expert
Internet & Technology Safety expert Katie Greer visited St. Christopher's last week to speak with students, teachers and parents about the importance of their digital footprint.
You spoke yesterday in the middle school chapel about the importance of using social media as a tool, and to not allow it to consume us. Can you clarify the distinction there? What’s the difference?
I find myself sometimes being bad at this personally. When I’m using social media I always try and ask myself, “am I using this for a purpose, or is there a purpose for what I’m about to post?”
I was recently in California eating at this beautiful hillside ocean restaurant with waves crashing beneath me—it was absolutely gorgeous. All of a sudden I realized that I had been scrolling through Instagram for several minutes without realizing it. I have to make myself take a break—to put the phone down and disconnect.
I was recently in California eating at this beautiful hillside ocean restaurant with waves crashing beneath me—it was absolutely gorgeous. All of a sudden I realized that I had been scrolling through Instagram for several minutes without realizing it. I have to make myself take a break—to put the phone down and disconnect.
I think we can start by being present and a bit more mindful of how we use media, and this does not just apply to kids. Used correctly, social media can be a fantastic tool that spreads a cause, gets us recognized, enhances our brand.
You mentioned that developmentally, kids’ brains aren’t wired to understand the consequences of one inappropriate tweet or Instagram post—can you elaborate on that?
Kids’ brains have never been wired to weigh long-term consequences of their actions—this is not new with social media and technology. My son, for instance, might run across the street without looking and without weighing the consequences. Kids have always behaved this way, so this is not new behavior.
What is new is the permanency of it—when a kid puts information or a photo out there, they’ve lost control of it. Even deleting images isn’t completely effective, it’s like “throwing a blanket” over that information. It’s safer to assume that with your digital footprint, anything you put out there is permanent.
How much “screen time” is too much screen time for Lower Schoolers, Middle Schoolers, and High Schoolers?
The AAP has just released brand new guidelines around this, but I don’t like suggesting parents completely rely on those. The truth is that every household is different. Right now, generally speaking, kids have way too much screen time—but it’s up to each household to determine what makes sense for them. In my house, for instance, we don’t allow any access to any devices except for during a few specific times each week. The important thing with this is to make sure you have clear and consistent guidelines with your kids and to start early. It’s much easier to teach your child or children to use technology responsibly at a young age than to try and restrict it when they’re older.
What practical things can teachers and parents do to model good behavior as it relates to using technology/social media?
I’ve struggled with this in my own house. I have my own businesses, and just like many adults I am often very busy. A big part of my work involves pushing out information over social media. I think the key is to be mindful about when we’re using it and not, for instance, let our kids see us scrolling through social media during dinner hour. I literally will put my phone in a drawer to make myself disconnect from it, leaving the ringer on in case of an important call.
You mentioned yesterday that one of the first things you do when you get an application from someone to work at your company—you immediately look at their social media. Is that something the boys here should consider as it relates to the college admissions process? Are college admissions officers reviewing kids’ social media accounts?
40 percent of colleges are using {social media presence} as part of their admissions process, and I think they’re smart to do it. SAT’s and ACT’s are important indicators, but a kids’ digital footprint can say a lot more about who they are than numbers.
What reason do parents and teachers have to be optimistic about the ways that our kids are using social media?
I am way more excited than I am fearful about how kids are using social media. They have the potential to use it for such good—to save lives one day because of the things they’re doing and learning on the internet. It’s true that kids are learning differently today—they process information in innovative ways that can be helpful in solving problems. As long as we’re teaching kids to be mindful about hey they use the technology, we should be more excited than nervous.
Learn more about Katie and her work on her website.
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