In This Together

She left me on ‘read’

Young people use their smartphones in a ‘smart’ way. They navigate them quickly, learn skills in photography, film, for example, such as how to edit. They listen to and curate music, watch a reel or video to learn how to crochet, bake or play piano and even digitally grow trees while managing their time to be productive. This list is far from exhaustive but is indicative of the utilitarian use of the smartphone which is constantly evolving and not going away. Unfortunately, their ubiquity also means there are many times when the smartphone feeds into the anxieties and insecurities of young people exacerbating negative thinking patterns.  

With smartphones remaining a constant, educators and parents have a responsibility to help young people develop skills to navigate digital spaces. In this short video, Harvard researchers Emily Weinstein and Carrie James, who are experts on teens and technology, provide practical tips for adults on how to help young people navigate the digital world. In a world where they use technology to nurture connections and be a good friend, parents and carers need to consider how to ask more open-ended questions to understand how and why teens are using technology and guide them to make informed decisions online.

This is a very helpful video on how to support teens in an online world.

“They left me on read” could be something you have heard your teen say and behind that small statement could be big feelings and thoughts which set off negative thought patterns. This short article, Strengthening Teen Digital Well-Being, from the Harvard Graduate School of Education provides a very clear and brief explanation about how in the online world communication is often misinterpreted, resulting in thinking traps which can contribute to anxiety. These are clearly outlined in the article, as are three simple steps on how we can help teens to make their way out of the negative thinking trap.

Please take the time to watch and read these resources. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school. We do hope you get a few tips you can apply at home with your daughters.

Carol Bloomfield
Head of Student Wellbeing Programs