A Confluence, Assumptions, Crossroad, and One
Solution for Teen Girls on Social Media
"But here is the strangest paradox of
Time that it can only be managed in a very small-time frame called TODAY. And
TODAY can sometimes be sparked by a tinier matter of CHOICE." Teen Girl Faces Time in the Sand
In Geology,
a younger rock formation isolated among older rocks is called an outlier. So,
if an older person stands up among younger people to share wise experience is
she also an outlier because she cares?
Can we set
the table with some common assumptions?
- The internet revolution is here to stay and grow.
- Social media will be the communication channel for better or for worse.
- Almost all levels of mainstream culture are digitally disrupted with necessary adaptive changes
- Teen culture is the more vulnerable because of adolescent brains still in formation to build a rationale, deductive frontal cortex.
Here’s my
Big Picture view based on observations and continuous research.
Teenagers,
especially teen girls, are at a crossroad with 4 different settings, story lines or solutions…
One:
Everything is fine…they will grow out of teenage angst on social media…maturity
is a step away at 20 years as independent, competent adults.
Two: There
are serious problems with internet exploitation of teen girls via various
platforms, body images, psychologists’ reports re depression, etc.
Three: Much advice about tactical control tips for parents, self-esteem worksheets,
meditation practice, new curriculum objectives re sexting, etc.
Four: Change
internal MINDSET that my OFFLINE TIME in my space is more important than ONLINE
TIME in others' virtual reality.
New
assumption: What is the best way to overcoming conditioned reflexes and relearning
new mindsets?
Best way to
break a habit is to find reasons to reset new behaviors…
Best way to
undo conditioning is to recondition with a new mindset…
New theory:
show teenagers there is a reality far more important and more valuable than social
media gossip, games, being influenced, liking and looking for approval from strangers with physical codes.
HOW?
Consider the one commodity that all teen girls have in common ... namely TIME
and how they spend it.
Therefore, how can time be understood better, described
and managed, using symbols when
necessary?
New idea: Read a story
based on the theme of time within a broad overview. A teen girl narrates her
story of making some bad choices about Selfies and drugs pointing to a symbol
of the Social Media Circus impacting an adolescent brain in a dream. She keeps asking, “Is it my fault?” Her grannie helps to explain the transition
of time as experiences with symbols in the sand and the power of choice made in
reference to a timeline with 3 essential questions. Redemption follows with new
mindset to believe in Self not Selfie.
Note the
fragility of life and destiny with no choice is drawn from a damselfly.
Then
practice a few lesson plans to help reinforce some basic timely ideas within
context.
EXAMPLES: get to know areas of the brain, draw powerful neuron connections, word
webs beyond self, predict rites of passage, new calendar of time based on
experiences, practice making smart choices, note difference between choice and
habit, connect morals to self-esteem with actions, compare time charts (offline
vs online) and celebrate MY TIME like a Mandela of vision ... no cellphones
allowed. There is life beyond the small screen face.
The story
takes two hours to read. The exercises may take longer. But, at least, perhaps,
a SEED may be planted that holding a timeline in your hand is your
responsibility. Perhaps, a couple pages
in the minds of teen girls may turn to being a special Self not a media Selfie.
Could this
be a better antidote than taking the cellphone away or writing a daily journal
when their future adulthood may be on the line? Is this a better way to relate to morality in our culture when some people think amorality is the new normal?
As a citizen
of the world and a teacher who deeply respects education and always wants to
teach the Big Picture, the total unit, I worry about other long-term options. The truth
is we are in the middle of an unprecedented confluence, “a tide in the affairs
of teenagers” where the “current we take” will either “serve or lose our
ventures.” …adapted William Shakespeare. I hope we are not too late in turning the tide.
I sometimes wonder
if our society may be losing a generation of young women to the siren calls of a
Social Media Clown Face. Teen girls probably cannot write a story like this when
their train is just leaving the station on routes of their choosing where one
wrong mistake can derail a lifetime.
Finally,
mass media has created this situation and mass media can help to reduce some of
the undesirable effects. Imagine how a good
film producer can produce a wonderful short movie with TIME as a radial center
to respect the rites of passage for young women.
Questions and comments are always important. Podcast shows are important to debate. What are other options? Has our culture crossed the line or not? Has it done enough to protect our amazing teen girls?
Sincerely,
Annemarie
amarie10@gmail.com
833 471 4661 (leave message and best time)
https://helpfulmindstreamforchanges.com
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