Kids Face the Danger of ‘Tech Saturation’ in Today’s Expanding Digital World

Activist Max Stossel, founder of The Social Awakening, can often inspire audience members to delete social media apps from their phone during his talks.

October 8, 2024
2 min read
A girl using her smartphone.

Phone apps can be like gambling: They often provide rewards that keep us coming back for more. Their addictive nature makes it difficult for kids (and even adults) to step away from their devices.

“So much of our phones are designed like these slot machines,” activist Max Stossel told a packed room at The Rye Free Reading Room on Sept. 26. “Every time we hit those little red icons we’re playing that slot machine of, ‘what did I get this time?’ or for kids, ‘did the person I really wanted to, see my story?’ … Sometimes they did and sometimes they didn’t, which keeps us checking and checking.”

Stossel, founder of The Social Awakening, an organization that aims to help teens, schools, and parents survive and thrive in today’s digital world, is known for his ability to not only educate parents, but to also communicate like a peer with kids. He can often inspire audience members to delete social media apps from their phone during his talks.

The event was co-sponsored by The Rye Youth Council and IRL, an organization that wants to change the way people relate to their cell phones and social media.

Stossel, a filmmaker and poet, talked about Tik Tok, Instagram, and Snapchat, the unique experience each provides and how they work. He emphasized the broader impact these apps are having on kids’ lives, such as a rise in depression and suicide. He supports phone-free schools and applauded groups like Wait Until 8th and IRL, which are pushing for delays in smartphone use.

“This is hard and we’re all doing our best, and getting on the same team with our kids and schools about this is really helpful,” Stossel said.

Max Stossel at one of his talks.
Max Stossel at one of his talks advocating for better control over smartphone use.

He also said parents need to help children navigate away from these devices in ways that are sustainable and not hypocritical. For instance, he suggested that you can’t just take away an app that connects kids to their friends, you need to let them know how they can remain in touch with friends without it.

And he urged parents to model healthy technology usage in front of their kids.

His talk at the library, where he addressed parents, was followed by two sessions for children on the same day — the first at Rye Middle School in the afternoon, and the second at Osborn Elementary School in the evening.

IRL, a Rye nonprofit, was started last spring and aligns with Stossel’s sentiments for delaying smartphone use and addressing the challenges of tech oversaturation. In addition to bringing in speakers, IRL is planning events that encourage more childhood experiences “in real life.” IRL plans to host a beach day on Monday, Oct. 14 at Rye Beach from 1 to 3 p.m.

Stossel plans to return to Rye on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. at Rye Country Day School as part of the Heard in Rye speaker series. The event is free and open to all.

Subscribe and get freshly baked articles. Join the community!

baji999

marvelbet

krikya

Dbbet

Nagad88

Babu88

Six6s

Bhaggo

Elonbet

yono rummy

rummy glee

rummy perfect

rummy nabob

rummy modern

rummy wealth

jeetbuzz

iplwin

yono rummy

rummy deity

rummy app

betvisa

lotus365

hi88

8day

97win

n88

red88

king88

j88

i9bet

good88

nohu78

99ok

bet168

betvisa

satta king

satta matta matka

betvisa

mostplay

4rabet

leonbet

pin up

mostbet

rummy modern

Fastwin Login

Khela88

Fancywin

Jita Ace

Betjili

Betvisa

Babu88

jeetwin

nagad88

jaya9

joya 9

khela88

babu88

babu888

mostplay

marvelbet

baji999

abbabet

MCW

Jwin7

Glory Casino

Khela88