A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
In this episode, GP Dr Mick Tong explores young people's screen use and its place in education: Weigh technology’s benefits against its impact on learning Consider the role of hands-on experiences in development Hear a GP’s perspective on screen-related concerns Explore screen use, sleep, behaviour and physical symptoms Consider why some schools are [...]
Matt Bower, Macquarie University; Joanne Orlando, Western Sydney University, and Karen Woo, Macquarie University There is a vigorous debate going on about screen use in Australian schools and how much and what kinds are good for learning. Education Minister Jason Clare has called for a “digital detox”, amid calls from some parents to see screens [...]
In Part 2 of this episode, Dr Brad Marshall and Meg Tidyman reflect on the changing role of play and technology: Notice where children may need support with social communication Learn how to make space for flexible, unstructured play Understand ways to encourage turn-taking, negotiation and conversation repair Use children’s interests to invite [...]
Join host Dr Brad Marshall as he speaks with Speech Pathologist Meg Tidyman about how screens affect young children’s social connection and the importance of real-world interaction. Explore how screens affect opportunities for communication Consider gaps between concept knowledge and everyday language use Understand how play supports communication and connection Learn how [...]
Rob Nicholls, University of Sydney This week, a trial commenced in the United States that could drastically change how Facebook and Instagram operate globally. The trial in Oakland, which is expected to last six weeks, pits 29 US states against the two social media platforms’ owner, Meta. Four states – California, Colorado, Kentucky and New [...]
Four ways to help your teen (and yourself) spend more time away from devices Danielle Einstein, Macquarie University Phones and devices have become inextricably linked with everyday life. They store our credit cards, provide critical bus updates, and allow us to communicate whenever we need to. But when our device use starts to affect our [...]
Annabel Blake, University of Sydney; Eduardo Velloso, University of Sydney, and Marcus Carter, University of Sydney In 2022, the founders of chatbot startup Character.AI launched a platform where anyone could create interactive characters powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The app exploded, quickly growing to more than 20 million users who created more than 10 million [...]
Susanna Trnka, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Health isn’t what it used to be – namely the absence of being sick. Ask any teenager today what it means to them to be healthy, and you’re likely to hear about the vast array of areas in their lives they are “working on”. This can [...]
Catherine Page Jeffery, University of Sydney From December 10, those under 16 will only be able to see publicly available content on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X and YouTube. They will not be able to have their own accounts. For example, they could look up Taylor Swift’s latest music video on YouTube, [...]
Christiane Kehoe, The University of Melbourne and Elizabeth Westrupp, Deakin University Watching your teenager grieve the loss of their social media account can be confronting. Many are genuinely distressed or struggling with the change, and many parents are unsure how to respond. Australia’s social media ban, which started this week, means teens under the age [...]
