Kid, you posted WHAT?! How to raise a digital citizen | Keegan Korf | TEDxOmaha

Summary

The speaker, a proud 'xennial' born between 1977 and 1983, recounts her generation's unique blend of analog and digital experiences, from early internet days to Facebook's early exclusivity. She humorously reflects on her own online missteps and the broader cultural shift towards digital transparency, emphasizing the challenges of maintaining a clean digital footprint. As an educator, she discusses the importance of digital citizenship, the fear instilled in youth about online mistakes, and offers advice for parents to support their children's digital journey, advocating for understanding and guidance rather than fear.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker identifies with the 'Xennial' micro-generation, born between 1977 and 1983, who experienced both analog and digital childhoods.
• 📞 Xennials remember the transition from landlines to the internet, with early experiences including dial-up modems and AOL screen names.
• 🎓 The speaker reminisces about the early days of Facebook being limited to college students, which was a significant part of their young adult life.
• 🚫 Facebook's decision to open to the public in 2006 caused panic among early users who had shared personal content under the assumption of privacy.
• 🏫 As an educator, the speaker had to clean up their online presence to model digital citizenship for students, which involved deleting old photos and social media accounts.
• 🔍 The speaker emphasizes the importance of online narrative reflecting one's true self, advocating for authenticity over a perfectly filtered online image.
• 🚫 There's a societal pressure on young people to maintain a flawless online image, which can be detrimental to their sense of self and freedom of expression.
• 👶 The speaker expresses anxiety about raising a child in the digital age, considering the challenges of screen time, social media, and the potential for online experimentation.
• 🤝 The speaker calls for a village approach to parenting, where trusted adults can support and guide young people in their online activities.
• 🛠️ Parents are encouraged to educate themselves on digital platforms, set boundaries, and engage with their children's online lives responsibly.
• 🌐 Despite technological advancements, the speaker concludes that raising digital citizens is an extension of raising responsible real-life citizens, with a focus on understanding and empathy.

Q & A

What is the term used to describe individuals born between 1977 and 1983?

Individuals born between 1977 and 1983 are referred to as 'Xennials', a micro-generation that falls between Generation X and Millennials.

What is unique about the childhood of Xennials?

Xennials had an analogue childhood followed by a deep dive into a digital young adulthood, which means they experienced both the pre-digital and early digital eras.

What was the significance of the AOL screen name and dial-up modem for Xennials?

The AOL screen name and dial-up modem were significant as they represented the early means of connecting with friends and strangers in chat rooms, marking the beginning of their digital socialization.

Why was the 2004 launch of Facebook a pivotal moment for the speaker?

The 2004 launch of Facebook was pivotal because, at the time, it was restricted to college students with a college or university email address, which coincided with the speaker's young adulthood and the start of their online social life.

How did the 2006 opening of Facebook to the public affect the speaker and their peers?

The 2006 opening of Facebook to the public caused panic among the speaker and their peers, as it exposed their previously private online activities to a broader audience.

What steps did the speaker take to clean up their online reputation before entering the education field?

The speaker sifted through old photos, removed tags, deleted many of them, unfriended people, and shut down old social media accounts to clean up their online reputation.

Why did the speaker consider not posting a photo from their graduation day?

The speaker considered not posting a photo from their graduation day because it included a cocktail and a pack of cigarettes, which they feared could negatively impact their teaching career.

What message does the speaker convey about the online behavior of teenagers today?

The speaker conveys that teenagers today are not using social media for inappropriate behavior as much as previous generations did, but they are still sharing images that could be regretted later.

What advice does the speaker give to parents regarding their children's online activities?

The speaker advises parents to support their children by listening, educating themselves, setting boundaries, and exploring social media platforms alongside their children to help them navigate digital literacy responsibly.

What is the speaker's perspective on the challenges of raising digital natives?

The speaker acknowledges the anxiety of raising digital natives but emphasizes the importance of remembering that every generation faces unique challenges and that the core of raising responsible citizens remains the same, whether in real life or online.