GPS author to explain how to limit the negative effects of social media
On Thursday, Nov. 14, the GPS Parent Series: Navigating Healthy Families will present “Over the Influence: Why Social Media Is Toxic for Teens and How to Limit Its Impact” with author Kara Alaimo.
It will be offered at noon and 7 p.m. via Zoom. Go to the GPS Parent Series website, gpsparentseries.org/events/kara-alaimo/, for information and the links to these webinars.
Implementing low-tech weekends, taking a hiatus from Instagram and tracking screen time are some of the ways young people are trying to unplug. However, disconnecting from the influence of social media is more complicated than deleting or restricting access to an app.
Alaimo will demonstrate how social media may be affecting every aspect of our lives — from relationships and parenting to physical and mental wellbeing. She will reveal why much of the content we find in our feeds is designed to hold us back. She will also explain how false news reports are crafted to prey on a person’s vulnerabilities.
Alaimo will discuss the subtle and not-so-subtle disinformation found online and share strategies for how we can use the platforms to empower ourselves and others for good.
Alaimo is author of “Over the Influence: Why Social Media is Toxic for Women and Girls – And How We Can Take It Back.” She is an associate professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her work has been published by numerous media outlets, Harvard Business Review and several academic journals.
GPS is generously sponsored by the Emmy Gaffey Foundation, Cebrin Goodman Center, Prevention Leadership Team of the DuPage County Health Department, Duly Health and Care, Glenbard Early Childhood Collaborative, Cooperative Association for Special Education (CASE), College of DuPage, KidsMatter, Endeavor Health, Community Consolidated School District 93 Birth to 5 Coalition, DuPage Regional Office of Education, and Webb-Hutter Family Fund of DuPage Foundation.
Please share information about this event with friends and relatives.
To be placed on a reminder list for GPS events or submit a question in advance, contact Gilda Ross, student and community projects coordinator, at gilda_ross@glenbard.org or (630) 942-7668.