Resources for building family culture
The documents listed in this section follow a general format. That format is described below.
Definition
This section attempts to define the scope of what we are trying to create goals and guidelines around.
Goals
This defines what we are trying to achieve with regards to a specific topic.
Resources
This section contains external resources which were used to come up with some of the ideas in this document. I include a link to the resource and a summary of what information or perspective the resource provides.
I work off the assumption that I do not have access to perfect information and welcome exposure to other high quality resources on any topic listed in this section.
List of Documents
March 28, 2025
in Family Culture, Resources
Definition
Technology use in this document refers to personal computing devices such as computers, phones, and tablets to access content on the internet or local device. This includes specific concerns related to social media, video games, extreme content, and online communities.
Goals
- Help our children use technology to enhance their development and learning
- Develop critical thinking skills to recognize and resist digital manipulation and exploitation
- Teach children to view technology as a tool with specific benefits and limitations
- Help children understand the tradeoffs of using technology for entertainment
- Establish healthy device habits that prioritize physical presence and real-world engagement
Understanding Technology’s Impact
Digital Literacy
- Identify what specific problem a technology helps solve
- Understand how personalization algorithms work and their purposes
- Recognize the business models behind “free” services
- Learn how to evaluate information sources for credibility
Online Safety
- Recognize manipulative behavior online and develop response strategies
- Understand different forms of cyberbullying:
- Group exclusion
- Targeted hashtag campaigns
- Late-night messaging/harassment
- Manipulated photos and videos
- Indirect negative references (“subtweeting”)
- Inappropriate photo sharing and solicitation
- Understand the prevalence and harms of online pornography
- Recognize AI-generated content including:
- Deepfakes
- AI-generated images
- Style transfer
- Marketing
- Propaganda
Digital Wellbeing
- Develop personal strategies for monitoring device use
- Understand technology’s impact on sleep quality
- Recognize addiction mechanisms and how companies employ them
- Consider opportunity costs: time spent with technology means less time for other activities
- Learn to use technology to enhance real-world experiences
Family Technology Boundaries
Device-Free Zones and Times
- No device use in bedrooms
- No devices during meals
- No screens at least 1 hour before bedtime
- Device-free family time periods
Age-Appropriate Access
- No social media accounts before age 16
- No personal smartphones before age 16 (consider basic phones for communication)
- No unsupervised YouTube browsing
- No Roblox (consider alternatives like Minecraft)
Management Strategies
- Regular family discussions about technology use
- Transparent monitoring of younger children’s online activities
- Gradually increasing autonomy with demonstrated responsibility
- Modeling healthy technology habits as parents
Resources
These are external resources which were used to come up with some of the ideas in this document. I include a link to the resource and a summary of what information or perspective the resource provides.