"I think people used to have more fun." This haunting insight from a teenager this spring has stayed with me. It perfectly encapsulates the growing concern many of us have about the pervasive influence of digital technology on our young people.

According to a Pew Research Center survey from December 2023, nearly one in three teens are "almost constantly" on social media. This trend underscores a critical issue: kids with developing brains and susceptible minds are among the most vulnerable online, and many digital products exploit this vulnerability. The average student today spends more time in the digital world than offline, which has profound implications for their spiritual, academic, physical, social, and emotional development.

Understanding Digital Habits

Young users deserve to understand how the platforms and apps they frequent operate so they can develop healthy use habits. However, as the Center for Humane Technology advocates, the responsibility shouldn’t solely be on users or their teachers or guardians. There’s a clear need to design these products with user well-being and safety as a priority from day one.

Thanks to the efforts of US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, Jean Twenge, Jonathan Haidt, and movements like the UK’s Screen-free Childhood, 2024 saw a global shift in our thinking about digital wellness. The phone-free school movement has gained momentum with the goals of:

1. Providing a focused learning space
2. Supporting student well-being and opportunities to make friendships
3. Fostering authentic presence for both students and teachers

The Beginning of a Digital Wellness Culture

"There is absolutely no inevitability as long as there is a willingness to contemplate what is happening." This quote from Marshall McLuhan reminds us that we are not powerless in the face of technological change. Phone-free classrooms are a significant first step, but they are just the beginning of creating a school-wide digital well-being culture rooted in a Christian worldview and a redemptive story.

Fear and Shame in the Digital Age

Fear is the byword for the digital age – fear of AI, virtual reality, online predators, and deep fakes. Shame is not far behind. Most people – teachers and teens included – feel embarrassed by how much they overuse technology, but they don’t know how to stop. When phones are taken away, students often feel more intense FOMO (fear of missing out) and may binge on social media to catch up when they get home.

Embracing JOMO: A Movement Towards Digital Wellness

JOMO is the ‘joy of missing out’ on the right things—life-draining aspects like FOMO, social comparison, and digital distractions—to make space for what matters most. We will all navigate technology for the rest of our lives, but we get to decide how. Through our discovery work with schools, we’ve heard firsthand from students that they want to learn practical digital wellness strategies for their laptops, tablets, and smartphones. 

Putting Joy at the Heart

When speaking with families about digital wellness, it’s crucial to put joy at the heart of the conversation. Instead of focusing on shame and guilt associated with technology overuse, we should emphasize the joy and freedom of intentional digital habits. This approach aligns perfectly with our Christian educator beliefs, fostering a positive and hopeful perspective on technology use.

The Portrait of a Digitally Well Christian School Graduate

Congratulations! It’s graduation day. Smiling graduates are receiving their diplomas. What digital wisdom and skills are they bringing to the future?

We posed these questions to a group of Vancouver-based educators: What does a digitally-well Christian school graduate look like? What community needs, skills, and understanding do they require to be equipped to navigate technology wisely for life?

This is the portrait they painted:

1. Self-Regulation and Mastery: Students exhibit self-control in device usage, balancing productivity and leisure without succumbing to distractions.
2. Tech Proficiency and Boundaries: They demonstrate advanced skills in device usage, leveraging settings to enhance efficiency while maintaining boundaries to preserve real-life interactions and enjoyment.
3. Life Skills Development: Mastery over technology isn't just about campus life; it's crucial for navigating post-school phases, emphasizing intentional use and presence.
4. Personal Growth and Wellness: Graduates possess self-awareness, set boundaries, recognize passions, and use technology as a tool rather than being controlled by it. They prioritize wellness, including downtime, and appreciate alternatives to constant tech engagement.
5. Community and Support: They require engaged adults who value their presence over tech distractions, encourage constructive activities, set up accountable spaces for technology use, and promote and model healthy device habits, such as a digital charging station at home for better sleep hygiene and technology procedures at school for better focus.

The Journey to Digital Wellness

During a recent school visit on the west coast of Canada, I was breezing out of a listening session with a group of high schoolers when a 16-year-old boy ran up to me and urgently asked, “For a kid like me who wants this, what do I need to know?"

I paused and looked deep into his eyes. Here was a young man who, in his own words, had already made significant changes to his digital habits encouraged by the learning and new practices his parents had recently adopted.

I told him, “You need to understand the design of the technology tools you use and the environments you inhabit daily, to understand where you are right now and where you want to go, to learn what supports your goals and makes you well, and the tactical changes needed to make your well-being and success a reality.”

Essential Elements of a Digital Wellness Program

1. Focus on Joy Over Shame: As Jonathan Haidt suggests, equal weight should be given to adding play and joy into our lives, not just removing negative influences.
2. Acknowledge the Conversation: Everyone is talking about Yondr bags and phone-free schools. This is a great start, but we must also consider the rest of our technology use.
3. Encouragement for Broader Change: Encourage educators and students to think beyond phones. Consider laptops, tablets, and other digital devices in the conversation about healthy tech use.
4. Align with Christian Beliefs: This new tech conversation dovetails with our Christian educator beliefs, emphasizing intentionality, community, and holistic well-being.

Conclusion: Moving Forward Together

Creating a phone-free school environment is a powerful first step in fostering a culture of digital wellness. But it's only the beginning. By embracing a comprehensive approach that includes understanding technology’s design, focusing on joy, and fostering community support, we can help our students develop the skills and habits they need for lifelong digital well-being.

As Christian educators, we are uniquely positioned to lead this movement. We understand the importance of holistic development—spiritual, academic, physical, social, and emotional. By integrating digital wellness into our curricula and daily practices, we can help our students navigate the complexities of the digital age with wisdom and grace.

Let’s move forward together, fostering environments where our students can thrive, where they can experience the joy of missing out on what doesn’t serve them, and where they can fully embrace what truly matters in their lives. With intentional effort and a focus on joy, we can transform our schools into beacons of digital wellness, setting our students up for success in all areas of life.

If you would like to learn about JOMO(campus), browse their site or contact Christina!