Program explores youth in the digital age

Do you ever wonder if all that time on the tablet is harmful to your eight-year-old? Or has your pre-teen become withdrawn and depressed since joining the land of social media? What about your constant struggles with your highschooler in simply getting them to engage in a meaningful face to face conversation? If all of this sounds familiar you don’t want to miss an upcoming free digital education event in Superior on August 14.

Parents and guardians of school aged children are encouraged to spend an evening with Dr. Lisa Strohman to learn about how to protect youth in the digital age. From 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Superior High School, dinner will be generously provided by Riverside Soup and Sandz. Attendees have a chance at winning a Scheels gift card, and the first 25 will receive a signed copy of Digital Distress: Growing up Online.

Dr. Lisa Strohman is a Psychologist, Attorney, and Founder of Digital Citizen Academy. She has appeared on various national news and media outlets such as CNN, Fox News, ABC, PBS, and Newsmax. Her work has also been cited in many publications including Newsweek, Best Life, and Popular Science.

The event will encompass how youth are navigating an online landscape that is vast, exciting, and often dangerous. In cyberspace there are no boundaries, no supervision, and unlimited access to strangers. Dr. Strohman will offer solutions to parents facing the responsibility of keeping youth safe online, during an unprecedented time of mental health crisis. Cyberbullying victimization rate among middle and high school students is at an all-time high.

She conveyed that the August event, “It will be appropriate for all ages, though the conversation will be geared to parents/guardians of Mineral County students and admin. The information that is specific to parents will be modified to include the audience of youth by taking out information that could be sensitive.”

Dr. Strohman noted that the Alberton, Superior, and St. Regis School Districts taking the initiative in this training is significant. She added, “Mineral County is the first in the U.S. that has decided to protect all of their schools, train staff, and offer parenting programs through the Digital Citizen Academy Program to ensure the children are all safe. This event will also provide an opportunity to offer some education and tips for parents and guardians on how to be proactive.”

For some technology foundations Dr. Strohman explained, “Children really should have no screen time before the age of two, but I suggest that if a parent can hold access until at least three this is ideal.” She also recommended, “I feel that no child should have a personal cellphone until they get into high school – middle school is by far one of the most difficult times and kids with devices tend to have much higher rates of anxiety and depression.”


Even in a small rural community whether the child has an affluent family or they are not as well off, technology usage across the board is accessible to all. Dr. Strohman stated, “There are no areas demographically where children are always safe within the online space.”

She expressed, “I feel that being direct with the realities of how it impacts their brains both physically and chemically and let them know what can happen with too much use. Parents and guardians can be a positive influence on their youth by modeling healthy boundaries with technology.”

For parents to make wise decision regarding cellphone use and internet access, they need to become better aware of the negative outcomes for children. Dr. Strohman noted, “Consequences can affect various aspects of their development and well-being, but here are some of the areas to review.”

First is mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. She maintained, “Excessive screen time and social media use can lead to feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, and increased anxiety and depression due to comparison with others and exposure to cyberbullying.”

Sleep Disorders are on the rise among adolescence. The blue light produced by screens can disturb sleep patterns, causing sleep deprivation. Chronis lack sleep can attribute to numerous other health problems like mood swings, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.

Physical health problems from too much screen time often correlate with obesity. A sedentary life style of sitting and scrolling all day can contribute to weight gain and poor health. Dr. Strohman also detailed, “Extended use of screens can lead to digital eye strain, characterized by symptoms such as headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes.” Other physical health she mentioned are, “Poor posture, long periods spent on devices can result in musculoskeletal problems, such as back and neck pain.”

In schools a major concern is the cognitive development impacts that screen usage is having on young children. Dr. Strohman voiced, “Overuse of digital devices can impair attention span and reduce the ability to focus on tasks, potentially affecting academic performance.” Teachers are seeing impaired learning. She highlighted, “Excessive screen time can interfere with critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to retain information.”

Other academic implications include distraction from studies. She said, “Excessive screen time can distract from homework and study time, negatively affecting academic performance.
Also, easy access to information can sometimes lead to academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism or cheating on assignments and exams.”

It’s seen in every restaurant, mall, and public event around the nation, reduced social skills.
Dr. Strohman illuminated, “Excessive use of phones and computers can limit face-to-face interactions, impeding the development of essential social skills and emotional intelligence.”

Some behavioral issues being seen from technology over use are addiction. She stated, “Unlimited access can lead to internet or gaming addiction, characterized by compulsive use of devices and a loss of interest in other activities. And constant access to fast-paced digital content can foster impulsive behaviors and impatience.”

Unrestricted access for young children and teens can result to exposure to violent, sexual, and inappropriate content, that leave lasting impacts on them. Predation is a serious and real threat. Dr. Strohman shared, “There is a risk of encountering online predators who exploit the anonymity of the internet to target vulnerable children and teens. Increased online activity raises the risk of exposure to cyberbullying, which can have severe emotional and psychological impacts.”

Isolation is a common emotional consequence. Dr. Strohman enlightened, “Over-reliance on virtual interactions can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation, as real-world social connections weaken.” Constant connectivity, endless notifications and the pressure live on social media platforms can produce significant amounts of stress.

All of these negative consequences from too much technology and overuse of screens for children can be explored more on August 14, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Superior High School. Come learn how Mineral County public schools, in partnership with Dr. Lisa Strohman are leading the way in reducing the risks for students through Digital Citizen Academy programming.