are faceless, voiceless and emotionless (if you don't count emojis). Empathy is highlighted when we are exposed to the p
NOVEMBER 2017
DEAR DR. ROBYN
RESPONSIBILITY Young students: “I’m the one who gets the job done!” Older students/teens/adults: Doing what is required, needed or expected of us.
Dear Dr. Robyn, My kids are online more and more these days both for school and for fun with friends. I want to make sure I talk to them about being responsible. What should I cover? We’ve heard about kids doing regretful things online and I want to make sure my kids don’t do anything unsafe or mean. Dear G. Maddon, It is now more important than ever to talk to our kids about being responsible online. The lines between online actions and offline actions have become blurred due to the frequency of online use. The cyber world is simply part of life and how we act online has a profound influence on how we are seen and known by others. How can we help kids become more responsible online? (1) Pause before you post: It’s easy to get caught up in emotion while posting online. We may read a post or see a video that angers us or we may feel attacked by an online acquaintance who doesn’t really know us. Sue Scheff, author of ShameNation, reminds us on the How to Talk to Kids about Anything podcast; “Don’t put a temporary emotion on the permanent internet.” In other words, pause and think before you post something you may regret.
-G. Maddon; Massachusetts (2) Discuss empathy: Empathy has suffered greatly in this digital world because many interactions are faceless, voiceless and emotionless (if you don’t count emojis). Empathy is highlighted when we are exposed to the plight of real people, put ourselves in their shoes and imagine how we would feel on the other side of the screen. How would your teen feel if they received a negative, shaming or mean post? (3) Think through long term reputation: How does your child want to be seen by others? What does s/he want to be known for in this world? Our children need to learn that the internet provides a snapshot of each person’s reputation, interests, hobbies and character. While good friends may be more forgiving, colleges and employers will not excuse rude, shaming or cruel words and actions. A good rule is to never post anything you wouldn’t want your Grandma or employer to see.
