Technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are just about everywhere, all the time \u2014 and that\u2019s even more the case for the younger generation. We rely on apps, algorithms and chatbots to stay informed and connected. We work, study and entertain ourselves online. We check the news, learn about elections and stay informed during crises through screens. We monitor our health using smart devices and make choices based on the results and recommendations displayed back to us. Very few aspects of our lives evades digitization, and even those that remain analog require intention and mindfulness to keep it that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this context and with the rise of AI and a growing generation of teens relying on the internet for learning, entertainment and socializing, now more than ever, it\u2019s important to find ways to involve them in conversations about how technology influences their lives, their communities and the future of the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tech isn\u2019t all or nothing \u2014 it\u2019s something in between<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The message adults used early on when it came to discussing technology with teens was \u201cdon\u2019t.\u201d Don\u2019t spend too much time on your phone. Don\u2019t play video games. Don\u2019t use social media. This old-school method proved ineffective and, in some cases, counterproductive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More recently, things have changed, and in some cases, adults have welcomed technology into their homes with open arms, sometimes without critique or caution. At the same time, schools have put great emphasis on training teens in web development and robotics in order to prepare them for the ever-changing job market. But before slow-motion running on a beach into a full embrace with technology, pause for a moment to reflect on the power of what we hold in our hands, and consider the profound ways in which it has reshaped our world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s as if adults jumped between two extreme poles: from utter dystopia, to bright and shiny techno-solutionism, skipping the nuances in between. So, how can adults prepare to foster discussions with teens about technological ethics and the impacts of technology? How can teens be involved and engaged in conversations about their relationship to the technologies they use? We share the future with younger generations, so we need to involve them in these conversations in meaningful ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n