Last February 1, 2019, the entire high school student body, as well as teachers and parents, took part in a talk centered on the theme Raising and Educating the Wired Generation. In line with the school’s thrust to ground its students on the foundation of strong character formation, four international speakers from North America and Europe with expertise on media and technology were invited to share their insights on how young people can practice responsibility as members of the online community.
Apart from giving the students advice on how to behave on the different social media platforms, the speakers were able to touch on topics concerning balance between academics, time with family and friends, and the use of social media in the world that has now become dependent on the internet. The students were encouraged as well to voice any queries they had on the topic. The talk certainly left them with meaningful learning experience, teaching them that being members of the online community does not open doors for them to create facades, but serves as an opportunity to truly be resilient.
Mr. Paul Graas, Research Manager from Interaxion, spoke about how children and adolescents build character in a digital age, battle for concentration, and how apps affect the way we work and live. Here are some tips he shared with the students:
- Remember the golden rule: respect each other and don’t say anything to anyone on social media that you wouldn’t say in person. Social media becomes valuable if it is anchored in real life.
- Turn off your notifications so that you decide when to check your social media accounts
- Try to stop using your phone one hour before bedtime. Studies have shown that it can affect your sleep, your health, and your brain.
- Put your phone away from your field of view when you are studying.
- Put your phone on flight mode when you are out with your friends.
- Don’t follow or interact with people on social media that you don’t know personally.
- Talk with your parents about what happens to you on social media.