Keep Up Weekly: “I get my news from TikTok”
Welcome to another edition of Keep Up Weekly, where I try to make sense of the news shaping our kids' lives (and stay sane in the process).
Nothing makes me feel more aware of my age than my resistance to join TikTok. Like any good millennial, I watch TikTok videos on Instagram.
You might think my resistance is ethical or political, but I’ve got to level with you: it’s mostly because I’m just too damn tired. The thought of learning how to navigate a new social media platform makes me want to take a 2-hour nap.
But, it’s where the young people hang out, so I know I need to get with the program. I want to understand the algorithm that’s playing a massive role in shaping our kids’ media consumption and view of the world. And I’m not going to achieve that by burying my head in the sand.
Maybe I don’t want to sign up because I’m not ready to confront some difficult truths — like how it’s a breeding ground for toxic masculinity and misinformation. At least, that’s according to the teenagers interviewed on my podcast recommendation this week, ‘Preparing our kids for the wild world of the internet’.
By RNZ’s The Detail, this 25-minute podcast episode features interviews with Year 13 students from Macleans College and their media studies teacher. It covers the importance of media literacy, makes the case for including media studies in the official NZ Curriculum, and explores how some students are using TikTok to get a sense of what’s important (and what’s not) before they seek out other news sources.
It’s an equally worrying and inspiring listen — the teenagers are so articulate and wonderful. The technology they’re having to navigate is less so.
MORE THOUGHT-PROVOKING READS & PODCASTS
Proposal to defund resource teachers sparks sector outcry (School News)
I think this snippet from the article says it all: “In the joint press release, education leaders said the proposal ‘disrespects the mana and expertise of Resource Teachers and places schools and teachers in the impossible situation of having to comment on this proposal when they are desperate for any additional funding to support children’.”
What teachers can do when misinformation goes viral (Australian Association for Research in Education)
This isn’t the easiest or quickest of reads, but I’m excited that this article exists. That in itself gives me some hope.
Can Aussie teachers keep up with the AI revolution? (The Educator, Australia)
Most people I know can’t keep up with the AI revolution — let alone time-poor teachers. What’s even more terrifying is that what we know about AI today might be out-of-date tomorrow. Complementary listening: Ben Buchanen tells Ezra Klein that Artificial General Intelligence — an AI system that can beat humans at almost any cognitive task — may become a reality within three years.
A PEEK INTO MY PARENTING LIFE
Last week, I went to the gym four days in a row, barely uttered one stern word to my kids, and gushed to my husband about how much I’m loving spending more time at home.
This week, I haven’t exercised once, had one full night’s sleep, and have had to apologise to my kids for being snappy what feels like 81,934 times.
You win some, you lose some, right?!
On that note, I’m keeping this edition brief — it’s school pick-up time again! I'll be the mum at the gate bringing Adam Sandler vibes (IYKYK).
Thanks for reading and caring as we try to figure this all out together!
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