Digital Lives, Real Risks — Raising Digitally Literate Teens in the Age of Cyberbullying

In Part 1 of this series, we explored the emotional impact of Netflix’s Adolescence and how our Peer-to-Peer groups helps teens build real-world empathy and resilience. But there’s another front where our young people urgently need support — the digital world. 

The online world is where teens increasingly form friendships, discover identity, and face complex challenges. And while the internet offers incredible opportunities, it also comes with real risks — especially when it comes to cyberbullying, digital manipulation, and information overload. 

As we approach Stop Cyberbullying in Ontario Day this June, we’re leaning into a crucial question:  

What can parents and educators do to help young people navigate the internet safely, confidently, and ethically? 

Looking Ahead: A Summer Dedicated to Digital Literacy 

In response to the themes raised by Adolescence — and the lived experiences of the students and families we work with — Park Street is dedicating our entire summer term to digital literacy. We’re launching a series of hands-on, inquiry-driven programs that empower students to become not just savvy tech users, but ethical digital citizens. 

Here’s a preview of what we’re offering this summer: 

📱 Social Media Savvy 

Students will critically engage with the platforms they use every day, learning about online safety, digital wellbeing, and how to build healthier habits in a screen-saturated world. 

🤖 Amazing AI 

This module explores how artificial intelligence is shaping our lives — and what today’s students need to understand about algorithms, bias, and responsibility in tech. 

📰 Journalism Journeys 

In an age of misinformation, we’re helping students become critical consumers and ethical creators of media through hands-on writing, research, and reporting activities. 

Each of these programs aims to equip learners not just with skills, but with confidence, critical thinking, and connection — exactly what they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world. 

Empowering Parents: Helping Teens Navigate Social Media and Beyond 

As both an educator and a parent, I know how overwhelming it can feel to keep up with your child’s online world. Watching Adolescence might leave you, like me, with a pit in your stomach — but it also serves as a rallying cry. We don’t have to be tech experts to make a difference. What our children need most is open conversation, clear values, and our unwavering presence. 

Here are a few practical strategies that can help: 

💬 Talk about it — regularly and openly 

Make digital life a normal part of family conversation. Ask what they’re seeing online, what they enjoy, and what’s confusing or upsetting. Share your experiences too. Keeping the dialogue open builds trust — so if something does go wrong, they’ll know they can come to you. 

📵 Model healthy habits 

Our actions speak louder than screen time rules. Try putting your phone aside during meals or limiting work emails on weekends. Kids notice when we set — and live by — our own boundaries. 

🤝 Stay curious 

Instead of fearing new apps, get your teen to teach you. Ask how TikTok works, or what makes a certain game fun. You’ll not only build trust, but you’ll also get a clearer picture of the spaces they’re navigating. 

🛑 Set realistic boundaries together 

Blanket bans rarely work — collaborative limits do. Create tech rules that evolve with age, like “no phones after 9pm” or “private accounts only.” Explain the why behind each boundary. When teens understand the reasoning, they’re more likely to buy in — and eventually set their own. 

🧠 Keep communication judgment-free 

Remind your teen (often) that they can come to you — especially when something online goes wrong. Your calm, curious response might be the one thing that gives them the courage to open up. 

🚩 Watch for warning signs 

If your child seems withdrawn, unusually anxious, or secretive about their phone, gently check in. Don’t pry — just let them know you’re there, and you’re listening. You don’t need perfect answers; what matters is that they feel supported. 

Moving Forward — Together 

The digital world isn’t going away. But neither is the opportunity to guide our children through it with care, clarity, and compassion. At Park Street Education, we’re committed to doing exactly that — in our classrooms, in our summer programs, and in every conversation we have with students and families. 

Because the world of Adolescence doesn’t have to be our kids’ only reality. When young people are surrounded by informed, empathetic adults — at school and at home — they don’t just survive their teen years. They learn to thrive.