We’re all guilty of spending a little too much time on screens these days. Thank you to the chaos of the last 18 months for this. 

And not all of this screen time is due to distance learning. SO much of it is time on social media. It’s completely changed the way we interact with others and the agency we have over our time and even our thoughts. It’s true!

I recently watched The Social Dilemma, a documentary on Netflix. It explores the dangerous impact that social media has on all of us and how it’s specifically designed to manipulate our thoughts and our actions. The experts behind these platforms call themselves out!

The scariest part? We don’t even see it happening because it’s happening so slowly. 

Tune in to this episode as I explore the damage that’s being done thanks to social media and offer some ideas to open the conversation in schools and families to combat the issue. Social media isn’t bad but we do need to look at it with a more discerning view so we don’t use it as the crutch it’s become.

 

Jump in the Conversation:

• [1:59] Screen time and teens
• [3:33] Impact of social networking
• [4:33] The experts of social media
• [5:28] The most urgent problem of our time
• [7:00] Profit at all costs driving tech companies
• [7:23] If you’re not paying for the product, you ARE the product
• [8:05] Comparing illegal drugs and the software industry
• [9:33] How social media is harming the psyche of our youth
• [10:26] Social media as a source of loneliness
• [11:39] Schools and families can combat these challenges
• [13:47] Engagement and a reality check
• [14:50] Pointers and takeaways from the documentary--right from the experts
• [15:58] Get educated with Stanford Internet Observatory
• [18:09] Business models with accountability and humane design

  Links:

• The Social Dilemma Trailer
• The Social Dilemma Quotes
• Tristan Harris’ 2017 TED Talk: How a handful of tech companies control billions of minds every day 
• #mysocialtruth
• Center for Humane Technology tips for educators and parents
• Center for Humane Technology: How to take back control
• Stanford Internet Observatory
• Email Maureen
• The Education Evolution
• Facebook: Follow Education Evolution
• Twitter: Follow Education Evolution
• LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution
• EdActive Collective
• Maureen’s book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids
• Micro-school feature on Good Morning America
• The Micro-School Coalition
• Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition
• LEADPrep