To protect children from the harms of social media, some have advocated banning social networks for young children or delaying their introduction to them. But one expert offers another solution: teaching children critical thinking so they know how to protect themselves online.
As a professor, I’ve witnessed over the past decade a decline in the average college student’s ability to construct or refute strong arguments, due, at least in part, to the constant, distracting checking of screens. (And I’m not alone.) This lack of critical thinking naturally makes them more vulnerable to:
Misinformation,
Scams, and
Other online dangers.
Don’t know how to teach them this skill? Dr. Mary Davies explains how in her new book, Teaching Critical Thinking to Teenagers: How Kids Can Become AI-Savvy, Algorithms, Fake News, and Social Media Smart. I spoke with Davies, a senior lecturer in education and social practice at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, about what parents should do and why it can also give children an edge in the job market.
What is critical thinking?
Dr. Mary Davies: Critical thinking is the ability to ask questions carefully, analyze and evaluate information or ideas before deciding what to believe or do. It often involves reviewing counterarguments and weighing evidence to determine which claims or arguments are strongest.
CNN: You say that critical thinking is the most important thing we can teach children to protect them on social media. Why?
Davies: If you understand critical thinking, your automatic reaction when you browse anything online is: “Wait, is this true? Maybe I should do some more research. Does this apply to everyone?”
Teaching teenagers this skill and applying it to everything, not just social media, is better than banning it. Banning screen time doesn’t mean kids will suddenly wake up on their 16th birthdays as social media experts or algorithm gurus. So instead of blaming them by saying, “You spend too much time on screens,” the key is to foster a sense of self-efficacy. If you understand how different platforms and algorithms work, you’ll be more aware and resourceful in using them.
I think this can also help, to some extent, with managing anxiety. Anxiety is often linked to a lack of control. If you have critical thinking skills, you’ll have the tools to understand and control your screen time.
