Kids become more informed tech consumers when they understand the tech business model. This article, inspired by The Phone Book – Stay Safe, Be Smart, and Make the World Better with the Powerful Device in Your Hand, shares 3 words tech-savvy kids understand.
Over the past decade, anxiety surpassed depression as the most common reason youth seek mental health counseling. Some scientists argue that the increase in anxiety and depression is due, in part, to the demands placed on preteens and teens by social media and digital technology. The combination of social comparison, digital drama, FOMO, disturbing news and information, and insufficient sleep impact adolescents’ stress levels and well-being.
However, getting kids and teens to take screen breaks can be challenging. Many apps and games are designed to keep them engaged and scrolling. According to Common Sense Media research, over two-thirds of preteens and teens report difficulty stopping using technology once they have started.
3 Words Tech-Savvy Kids Understand
Technology companies’ business strategies make it challenging for young users to separate from their devices. (5 Rights Foundation, 2021). This inspired the focus of chapter one of The Phone Book, Why Tech Companies Want You Staring at Your Screen. Kids become more savvy and informed tech consumers when they understand the tech business model and techniques used to keep them online. Here are three concepts from this chapter that you can explore with kids and teens.
Tech-Savvy Word #1: Advertising
Like many corporations, technology companies aim to expand their reach and profits. Social media, video games, YouTube, and other apps need eyes on their platforms, including kids’ eyes, to maximize profits. The more time kids spend on screens, the more money these companies make from advertisers who use their platforms to sell products.
Studies have found that by the time a child is 13 years old, ad tech firms have gathered millions of data points on them, which they can use for targeted ads or sell to third parties. Essentially, screentime + ads sold to companies = $$$ for tech companies. When kids and teens better understand this, it may influence how they choose to spend their time.
Tech-Savvy Word #2: Algorithms
An algorithm is a set of defined steps to perform a specific objective. Algorithms are silent powerhouses behind many of the technologies we use daily. They enhance efficiency and personalize our online experiences.
Social media networks, web browsers, and sites like YouTube use algorithms to feed us content based on what content we have engaged with. For example, if you watch fitness content on TikTok, that algorithm will continue to show related content until you lose interest. One downside of algorithms is that they can keep kids in a rabbit hole of harmful content, such as content related to diet culture and disordered eating.
To safeguard against this, remind kids that they can curate their feed in a way that positively impacts their mood, well-being, and self-esteem. For example, they can follow inspiring people making positive changes in the world rather than influencers and people who make them feel bad about themselves.
Tech-Savvy Word #3: Persuasive Design
Persuasive design strategies are techniques used to increase online engagement. Techniques such as social media tags, reminders, and notifications are designed to capture users’ attention and maximize screen engagement. More engagement equals more data, advertising opportunities, and profit for tech companies.
It is important to note that persuasive design techniques are not ‘bad’ in and of themselves. They can be used to encourage positive behavior or give helpful reminders. However, many techniques do not support the well-being of kids and teens. When kids and teens learn about persuasive design and how it works, they begin to recognize it and can change their settings and behaviors accordingly. For example, they might turn off notifications on especially distracting apps.
Open and Ongoing Family Conversations About Screens and Tech
Whether your child is 6 or 16, regular family conversations about the positives and negatives of technology help kids navigate the complexities of the online world. When parents stay curious and ask open-ended, nonjudgemental questions, we better understand what our kids are doing and seeing on their screens. Family tech agreements also help establish rules and healthy screen habits. Caregivers can also help kids become more tech-savvy by helping them understand advertising, algorithms, and persuasive design. The more informed kids are about screens and tech, the more empowered they are to shape their digital habits.
About Jessica Speer:
Jessica Speer is the award-winning author of books for kids and teens, including The Phone Book – Stay Safe, Be Smart, and Make the World Better with the Powerful Device in Your Hand, BFF or NRF (Not Really Friends)? A Girls Guide to Happy Friendships and Middle School – Safety Goggles Advised. Blending social science, stories, and activities, her writing unpacks tricky stuff that surfaces during childhood and adolescence. She has a Master’s Degree in Social Sciences and a knack for writing about complex topics in ways that connect with kids and teens. Jessica regularly contributes to media outlets on content related to kids, parenting, friendship, and social-emotional learning. For more information, visit www.JessicaSpeer.com