In an attempt to teach about the dangers of the current digital world and the accessibility of it to children and teenagers, Vashon’s substance abuse organization will present three events next month addressing the issue.
October is Digital Safety Awareness month, and the first event in the Vashon Alliance to Reduce Substance Abuse (VARSA) series — a screening of the movie “Screenagers” — is at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Vashon Theatre.
“‘Screenagers’ probes into the vulnerable corners of family life, including the director’s own, and depicts messy struggles over social media, video games, academics and internet addiction,” the Screenagers website indicates. “Through surprising insights from authors and brain scientists solutions emerge on how we can empower kids to best navigate the digital world.”
VARSA Co-Chair Lisa MacLeod said that the topic is relevant to VARSA because the online world and the negativity that comes with it can create a “vulnerable population prone to self-medicating.”
“It’s prevention for us,” MacLeod said.
The screening and subsequent events are in response to a parent survey conducted over the summer. She said that the survey revealed navigating the digital lives of their children is one of the top five concerns Vashon Island School District parents have.
“Last year, we had Jo Langford (a sex educator, parent and therapist) speak about digital safety, and it was our best-attended event,” MacLeod said. “I think it was because, as parents, we’re becoming increasingly aware of the digital world and where it’s good and where it’s unhealthy. We learned how important this topic was after Langford’s talk.”
She said that she hopes Tuesday’s film will help parents realize that while their generation learned social skills from actual human interaction, children today are learning social skills from the internet, which presents many issues.
“It is full of very easy ways to get in bad trouble,” she said. “Part of growing up is making fabulous mistakes, but it’s all so public now, and it’s permanent.”
She said a short discussion, that she hopes will continue all month, will follow the film.
Admission to the film is by a suggested $10 donation.
