REBOOT

No Phone Days: Several times throughout the year, REBOOT students plan “No Phone Days” for the Upper School. Students are invited to turn their phones in to their advisors at the beginning of the school day and participate in activities and games throughout the day. As an added incentive to participate, the grade with the highest participation receives a prize! The goal of these “No Phone Days” is to encourage students to reflect on their relationship with their phones and social media, and build community with each other in person.

REBOOT Assemblies introduce the Upper School community to one or more central topics related to social-media habits and ethical-decision making. This includes discussion student generated case studies, conversations sparked by media clips on how to rethink our behavior online, and developing strategies for creating healthy and ethical social-media habits. These assemblies are often co-led by a REBOOT visiting expert, such as Max Stossel the Youth & Education Advisor for the Center for Humane Technology.

REBOOT students participate in panel discussions alongside experts in the field on a range of issues related to technology, social media, and mental health. Some topics that have been covered so far are: social media and addiction, privacy, and disengagement.

During these series, parents can also learn how to create an account on social media that protects their privacy online by creating a safe username and a strong password. Next, they will learn how to protect their identities and social media accounts for themselves and their children.

Class Visitors: The REBOOT Upper School Students help Middle School students understand the visible and invisible costs of social media on one’s personal health, self-identity formation, and the development of healthy relationships. Students engage in activities and discussions that think through questions such as: Have you ever posted something online that you regret? How do you define privacy in online spaces and how do you keep your information private? How do you set boundaries with yourself and others around social media use?

Case Studies Series: Upper School REBOOT students have generated a collection of case studies on different ethical dilemmas that teens might encounter in the digital world. These case studies are then used as conversation starters in workshops and advisory groups. Some topics and prompts include: Should college admissions offices take into account high school students’ social media profiles in admissions decisions? Should people be held accountable for harmful or inappropriate content that they posted several years ago?

Podcast Series: The “Tapping In” podcast is a REBOOT initiative that seeks to further examine social media addiction, teenage mental health, and other technology related topics. Some examples of what the episodes cover include dopamine addiction, body image, and students’ real life experiences on social media. Additionally, the hosts interview professionals in the field of mental health to further spread their expertise on social media addiction and its implications. Listen to our latest episodes.

Kent Place Upper School students are connecting with other high school students in the New Jersey area in order to expand the REBOOT network. KPS students will lead workshops and collaborate with students at other schools around REBOOT initiatives. Please contact ethics@kentplace.org if you would like to join the REBOOT network!