At Jackson Academy, dedicated faculty and staff advocate for the responsible use of technology in the classroom. While JA provides a comprehensive browsing filter and employs other safeguards on school-owned devices, Raider families may be interested in resources to help navigate through apps, social media platforms, and viral challenges that are available today. There are a lot of choices to be made, so having the right information is key to raising happy, well-adjusted, and responsible internet citizens!
The Tech Center recommends “Parenting in a Digital Age.” This video is a short presentation created by the team at CommonSense Media for parents and guardians who want tips and best practices for raising kids who are internet savvy.
You might be familiar with “The Ice Bucket Challenge” or the “Tide Pod Challenge,” two wildly popular social media campaigns with very different agendas. One raised awareness and support for a non-profit; the second challenge sought to achieve viral status and new followers with fatal results.
When executed responsibly, social media challenges introduced by reputable organizations and individuals are a creative way to increase followers and ultimately, product sales. Challenges initiated by some influencers often claim to be harmless fun but may be dangerous and even encourage destruction of property and self-harm. Challenges appeal to young people who have a need to feel a part of a group. Students may feel as though the actions required within a challenge are thrilling and fun. In our Digital Citizenship classes in fifth and ninth grades, students have the opportunity to discuss the importance of having a responsible social media footprint. The article linked below provides a guide for parents who are concerned about the influence of challenges and includes tips for starting conversations with your children.
Tools for Parents to Assess Which Apps Their Children Use
Educators are often asked about their opinions regarding specific apps or games marketed to students. There is no one size fits all answer to this dilemma. The decision to allow or prohibit access to something on the internet is a personal decision that depends on a person’s values and preferences. There are many apps out there. Some are good and some are not appropriate for younger users of social media. We’ve linked two resources for information about common apps students may encounter.
For questions or concerns about what your Raider has access to on their school-issued device, please reach out to your child’s teacher!
