On Monday 11th March, we were very fortunate to have Alicia Drummond from Teen Tips deliver an insightful webinar titled 'Creating Responsible Digital Citizens'. This Webinar was a follow up event from the sessions that Alicia delivered to our students in school.

The evening session focused on strategies and solutions for promoting healthy digital habits amongst teenagers, including the use of monitoring apps and understanding the connection between brain development, addiction, and social media usage.

Alicia emphasized the importance of teaching teenagers about responsible digital citizenship, including online etiquette and privacy, and discussed how these skills are crucial for navigating the digital world safely and respectfully. Furthermore, the webinar also provided practical solutions for parents and educators to monitor and manage teenage use of social media and streaming services, such as through the use of an app called SchoolsMobile. Alicia highlighted specific apps and tools that can help track screen time, block inappropriate content, and initiate conversations about healthy online behaviour.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the webinar was the exploration of the connection between brain development, addiction, and social media usage. Alicia delved into the neurological impact of excessive screen time and discussed strategies for promoting balanced digital consumption to support healthy brain development in teenagers.

The video recording of Alicia Drummond's webinar is now available on the school portal for a limited time of two weeks. This provides an excellent opportunity for those who missed the live session to access valuable information and resources regarding creating positive digital citizens among teenagers. To view, please click here. To access the full range of resources from  Teen Tips, please click here.

Mr Tim Waldron, Head of PHSE & RSE