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We’ve got a very special guest with us for this week’s episode: Lizzie Walter, my daughter! We’re talking about one teenager’s opinion on technology and how it affects school, home life and friendships. Here’s a glimpse into our conversation!
Adam and Skip: What kinds of technologies rule your life right now?
Lizzy: Snapchat and Instagram. I don’t have Snapchat, but most teenagers have them. I usually use Instagram over most other things, even though Instagram is pretty similar to Facebook.
Adam and Skip: When we were in school, we used to have books for classes and carried them around in our backpacks. Today, most people have Chromebooks for school. What do you guys use for school?
Lizzy: Google Classroom, a portal with all of our textbooks and video platforms, Google Keep for notes and Google Classroom to plan and keep track of assignments.
Adam and Skip: Do you trust these technologies, or do you feel the need to check on it and make sure everything is working properly?
Lizzy: I trust that it’s going to be there and give me the information that I need.
Adam and Skip: Google Classroom is pretty accessible. Given the choice, would you rather pick up your phone or your Chromebook?
Lizzy: I prefer my phone to quickly check assignments, but if I have to do something on a Google Doc, then I prefer to use my Chromebook because it’s easier to see and type on. And, It’s less distracting.
Adam and Skip: VR is the new, cool technology in town. How big are you on VR stuff?
Lizzy: It’s cool and all, but most of my friends don’t have a VR headset, so I can’t really talk to them or play with them on that. I have other stuff I can do with my friends.
Adam and Skip: What’s your digital life like at home?
Lizzy: We turn on the TV and everything that we want to watch is there. Sometimes we have to pay for stuff, but that’s becoming less and less of a thing. My phone, the switch and the Xbox are my favorite technologies at home.
Adam and Skip: It’s pretty normal to get mad at technology. Do you ever get frustrated with technology?
Lizzy: Yeah. I probably yell at my phone on a daily basis because something isn’t loading.
Adam and Skip: Do teens unplug or take technology breaks?
Lizzy: Some of us do, but not a lot. I feel like I need that every once in a while. I like being outside and it’s nice to get a break from technology. I really don’t think about how much I use my phone or other technology. I can see how much I use it, but it doesn’t really bother me because I am just used to it.
Adam and Skip: What do your friends think about technology controls or people watching over them on their devices?
Lizzy: I have gotten a few complaints about restrictions, especially when I run out of time on a game.
Adam: Can you explain to everyone what our deal is and how you get restrictions with your phone?
Lizzy: I usually get more restrictions when I am abusing the phone, spending too much time on it or downloading games I’m not supposed to. But, if I’m open with how I’m using my phone and my screen time goes down, then I get more freedom and my restrictions get loosened.
Adam and Skip: To wrap up, what’s one piece of advice you can give tech leaders and parents?
Lizzy: Restrictions are good because they help turn your kid in the right direction. You may think you’re being mean, but in the long run, it’s super helpful.
Just like at Humanize IT, good conversations and open communication help everything run smoothly. Thanks Lizzie for chatting with us about your take on technology! Join us next week for another episode.