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.

Outlines

00:00

📞 Xenials: Bridging Analog and Digital Worlds

The speaker identifies with the 'Xenial' micro-generation, born between 1977 and 1983, who experienced an analogue childhood and a digital young adulthood. They recall the early days of the internet with dial-up modems and AOL screen names, contrasting this with the more controlled online environment of today's youth. The speaker humorously reflects on their own online behavior at 20, noting the difference between their perception of wholesomeness and reality. They discuss the panic that ensued when Facebook opened to the public, affecting the privacy of their generation's online interactions. The speaker, now working in education, emphasizes the importance of modeling digital citizenship and the challenges of managing one's online reputation, especially in light of the permanence of digital footprints.

05:03

🤳 The Pressure of Perfection in the Digital Age

The speaker expresses concern over the curated online narratives that have become prevalent due to the fear of damaging one's digital identity. They discuss the unrealistic expectations placed on young people to maintain a flawless online presence, which can lead to anxiety and a distorted self-image. The speaker acknowledges the challenges of teaching digital citizenship and the responsibility adults have in guiding youth to use social media positively. They also touch on the importance of understanding and engaging with the social media platforms that young people use, advocating for a supportive and educational approach rather than one of fear and restriction.

10:03

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Navigating Parenting in the Digital Era

The speaker, anticipating parenthood, shares their anxieties about raising a child in the digital age, considering the complexities of screen time, social media, and the potential risks associated with online activities. They emphasize the need for parents to set boundaries and educate themselves on digital platforms to better support their children. The speaker suggests that parents should be involved in their children's online lives, not as intrusive figures but as quiet, observant supporters. They conclude by reminding the audience that despite the evolution of technology, the principles of raising responsible citizens remain the same, whether in the digital or real world.

Keywords

💡Xennial

Xennials, also known as Generation Xennial or the Micro Generation, are individuals born between 1977 and 1983 who are sandwiched between Generation X and the Millennials. This term is significant in the video as it sets the context for the speaker's personal experiences and the unique characteristics they share with their generation. The speaker identifies as a Xennial, highlighting their dual experience of an analog childhood and a digital young adulthood, which shapes their perspective on technology and social media.

💡Analogue Childhood

The term 'Analogue Childhood' refers to a time when technology was less pervasive, and experiences were more tangible and offline. In the video, the speaker reminisces about their childhood before the widespread use of the internet and smartphones, emphasizing the contrast with the digital experiences of younger generations. This concept is central to understanding the speaker's generational identity and their transition into a digital world.

💡Digital Young Adulthood

This concept refers to the period in the speaker's life when they began to engage with technology and the internet, marking a significant shift from their earlier, less tech-oriented childhood. The video discusses how this generation was among the first to navigate the emerging digital landscape, which included early social media platforms like AOL and Facebook, shaping their social interactions and online identities.

💡Dial-up Modem

A dial-up modem is a device that was used in the early days of the internet to connect computers to the internet through a telephone line. The speaker mentions using a dial-up modem to sign online, which is a nostalgic reference that situates the audience in the historical context of the late 1990s and early 2000s. This term is emblematic of the technological limitations and the excitement of early internet exploration.

💡Social Media

Social media platforms are digital spaces where users can create and share content, connect with others, and engage in various forms of communication. The video discusses the evolution of social media, particularly Facebook, and how it transformed from a private network for college students to a public platform. This shift had profound implications for the speaker's generation, who had to adapt to a new level of public scrutiny online.

💡Digital Citizenship

Digital citizenship refers to the responsible and ethical use of digital technology, including social media. In the context of the video, the speaker, as an educator, emphasizes the importance of modeling and teaching digital citizenship to students. The concept is integral to the discussion on how to navigate the online world responsibly and the challenges faced by educators and parents in guiding young people in the digital age.

💡Online Reputation

Online reputation refers to the perception of an individual based on their digital footprint, which includes their social media profiles, online comments, and any other content associated with their name. The speaker shares their personal journey of cleaning up their online reputation before entering the teaching profession, highlighting the importance of managing one's digital presence, especially in a world where information is easily accessible.

💡Sexting

Sexting is the act of sending sexually explicit messages, photos, or videos, typically between mobile devices. The video touches on the importance of educating young people about the legal and personal implications of sexting, which is a contemporary issue in digital citizenship. The speaker suggests that parents and educators should be aware of the laws regarding sexting to better guide and protect young people.

💡Digital Literacy

Digital literacy encompasses a range of skills and competencies needed to access, analyze, evaluate, and create digital content. In the video, the speaker advocates for digital literacy education to empower young people to use social media responsibly. This includes understanding the implications of online actions and the importance of privacy and consent in the digital world.

💡Screen Time

Screen time refers to the amount of time spent using electronic devices with screens, such as smartphones, tablets, and computers. The video discusses the challenges parents face in managing their children's screen time, which is a common concern in the digital age. The speaker suggests setting boundaries and limits as part of responsible parenting in a technology-saturated environment.

💡Parenting in the Digital Age

This concept addresses the unique challenges and opportunities that come with raising children in an era dominated by digital technology. The video reflects on the anxieties and responsibilities of modern parenting, where the internet and social media are integral parts of children's lives. The speaker encourages parents to support their children by understanding and engaging with the digital world, setting appropriate boundaries, and fostering open communication.

Highlights

Introduction of the 'Xenial' micro-generation born between 1977 and 1983.

Xenials have an analogue childhood and a digital young adulthood.

Personal anecdote of getting a teen line at 13 and early internet experiences.

Reminiscing about the early days of Facebook and its initial exclusivity to college students.

The shift in social media behavior when Facebook opened to the public in 2006.

The importance of modeling digital citizenship for students in the education sector.

The speaker's efforts to clean up their online reputation before entering teaching.

The challenge of managing one's digital identity in the age of social media.

The fear of posting personal moments online due to potential judgment and career implications.

The pressure on young people to maintain a perfect online image.

The role of the frontal cortex in decision-making and its impact on teenagers' online behavior.

Advice on how to support teenagers in their online activities and the importance of listening.

The need for parents and educators to educate themselves on digital platforms to better guide children.

Setting boundaries for children's screen time and device usage as a parenting strategy.

The speaker's anticipation and anxiety about parenting in the digital age.

Encouragement to remember that all generations have faced challenges in adolescence and young adulthood.

The conclusion that raising digital citizens is an extension of raising responsible real-life citizens.

Transcripts

raise your hand if you were born between

the years 1977 to 1983 all right it's

quite a few of you in the audience well

congratulations you my friends are of a

very unique micro generation known as

xenial

Ossie Niall is a person who falls

somewhere between Generation X and the

Millennial generations and they share

characteristics of both in addition to

sharing a very unique experience an

analogue childhood followed by a deep

dive into a digital young adulthood I am

a proud xenial I remember being gifted a

teen line in my bedroom at just 13 years

old because my parents couldn't bear me

tying up the phone lines any longer I

remember signing online using an AOL

screen name and a dial-up modem to

connect with my friends and complete

strangers in chat rooms I am of a

generation where in order to use

Facebook when it came out in 2004 you

had to be a college student with a

college or university email address at

this time I was just 20 years old

another show of hands here up high if

you think that at 20 years old I was the

most wholesome version of myself if your

hands are raised you are sadly mistaken

see I wasn't a bad kid but I was

exploring my independence the difference

was that for the first time in history I

was exploring that independence

alongside my peers in an online space we

were going to parties posting photos

from those parties and we were leaving

comments using rather colorful

language to express ourselves please

remember that at this time my mom wasn't

on Facebook my baby brother wasn't on

Facebook my grandmother

certainly wasn't on Facebook this was a

safe space for me and my peer group to

socialize and

communicate fast forward to 2006 in a

horrifying turn of events Facebook

decides to go public with its platform

leaving me and my peers in a panic when

I try to explain this historical

phenomenon to teenagers today I often

say to them

imagine if suddenly snapchat was like

just kidding we're gonna make your

photos available to everyone the kids I

say this to gasp in horror as if this

thought has never crossed their mind

because it hasn't kids today aren't

using snapchat as a prime resource for

inappropriate tomfoolery but they are

sending lots of photos out into the

world of themselves with double chins

and cat filters that they likely

wouldn't want a significant other or a

future employer to see today I work in a

public school system let's face it

entering education means all eyes are on

you and you have to model digital

citizenship for your students when I

began teaching I thought man I have got

to clean up my online reputation so I

did I started sifting through old photos

removing tags and deleting many of them

altogether I went on an unfriending

frenzy

I started shutting down old social media

accounts that I didn't use anymore fun

fact did you know that in order to

delete your old myspace account you have

to sacrifice the blood of your firstborn

child seriously it is a rigorous process

but there are a lot of things that the

person you see standing here today has

in common with the 20-year old version

of me I still mess up in real life and

online but I believe that our online

narrative should reflect our true selves

my actual life is not perfectly filtered

and my online life shouldn't have to be

either but I didn't always subscribe to

this idea this photo captures one of the

happy

days during the most exciting part of my

life to date this was the day I

graduated and earned my master's degree

just two weeks before my wedding day at

2:00 my very best friend this is also

the spring before I would begin my

career as an educator I did so much of

what I posted online and how I thought

about how I represented myself in that

space that for a moment I considered not

posting this photo at all see while we

look like two very very happy young

people in this picture because we were

and still very much are if you take a

closer look you'll notice that in the

corner of this photo there's a cocktail

and a pack of cigarettes I'm not even

sure if they were mine but I feared so

deeply that if the wrong people saw this

image that I would be shunned and I

could be fired and I would lose my

teaching certificate so I cropped the

photo

add this to the list of filtered moments

that I began to curate as part of my

online narrative the pendulum swung so

much when people my age realized that

our digital identities were going to be

determined by what we posted on social

media that we really started to give

young people the impression that they

couldn't ever make a mistake online

today adults constantly tell kids they

can't ever mess up on the Internet or

else they're never gonna get a job or

they're never gonna get into college and

their lives are gonna be ruined forever

we've done such a good job of planting

this seed of fear that instead of

helping our children by empowering them

to use social media for good they truly

believe that they have the power to

destroy their own reputation the part of

a teenager's mind that's responsible for

decision-making the frontal cortex isn't

fully developed yet and won't be until

they reach their early to mid-20s

sometimes young people post things

online that they don't even realize will

create an impact on themselves or others

other times they post click share and

after the fact realize that they've done

something they shouldn't have teaching

digital citizens is tough it's hard to

imagine raising them but after six

incredible years of marriage my husband

and I are finally ready to become

parents everyone tells us how well

equipped we'll be to parent during this

digital shift this digital age but for

as excited as I am to have a baby

someday soon I am still riddled with

anxiety I mean think about it some day

our hypothetical sweet tiny little baby

will become a teenager

how on earth will we handle screen time

and schoolwork and drama and social

media an experimentation with drinking

and sex and drugs and rock and roll

especially if they're posting about it

all online but wait this is the first

time we've ever done this not just my

husband and i's impending parenthood but

this is the first time that multiple

generations of people are raising

digital natives so we need to help

support them there's gonna come a time

in our future child's life when they're

going to post something online that is

less than acceptable to us many of you

have experienced this already when this

time comes we need to help support them

by lending an ear to listen I know I

know teenagers don't always turn to

their parents first when they're in a

crisis but they have relationships with

adults they trust if they aren't turning

to you maybe they're turning to a

teacher or even a peer that they look up

to and that's okay it still takes a

village so embrace that village we can

help support our kids by educating

ourselves and pointing them in the

direction of resources available to them

to help them manage their online lives

make them aware of laws that pertain to

sexting in the state where you live

seek out digital literacy opportunities

together at your local public libraries

I know this is a tough one but we need

to explore the social media platforms

our children are using so we can live in

those spaces alongside them helping them

to navigate the waters of digital

literacy more responsibly as your kid on

snapchat create an account dive in and

let your kid teach you how to use the

filters connect with them there or in

other social media platforms as a quiet

follower one who sees what they're doing

without interacting or without hovering

over the

every move technology will continue to

evolve exponentially but the most

important thing we can do as parents is

to set boundaries with our child's media

use and their devices set screen time

limits charge their devices in your

bedroom at night not theirs don't allow

devices at the table while eating or in

the car while driving and that means me

and you two parents I'm still riddled

with anxiety about becoming a parent but

I need to step back

zoom out on my worries and remember that

our parents face challenges too and

their parents before them so anytime

that you posted what thought crosses

your mind I want you to pause and think

about all the ridiculous stuff you did

while your young minds were still

developing no matter what generation you

came from we all experimented with

substances our bodies and ideas as

adolescents and as young adults no

matter how much technology has shifted

we need to step back

zoom out on our worries and remember

that raising digital citizens is no

different than raising in real-life

citizens thank you

[Applause]