Rye Middle School Students Explore the Impact of Technology and Social Media

Phones, social media and the ways technology competes for attention were at the center of special presentations led by Social Awakening founder Max Stossel on Sept. 22.

Sixth, seventh and eighth graders attended separate sessions in the Rye High School Performing Arts Center, where Stossel encouraged students to think critically about their technology habits and the role social media plays in their daily lives.

Stossel’s student presentation, “We’ve Been Sneaking Into Your Brains,” explores ways technology can be designed to capture attention and create distraction. Throughout the program, he provides students with practical tools for navigating those influences while creating opportunities for peer discussion about phones, social media and their impact.

As founder of Social Awakening, Stossel brings firsthand experience from the social media industry to his work with young people. Before launching the organization, he worked as a media strategist and ran social media for multinational brands before working for a social media company. His work now focuses on helping students, families and educators better understand and manage technology’s role in their lives.

The presentations gave Rye Middle School students an opportunity to consider not only how they use technology, but also how they can make more intentional choices about where they direct their time and attention. The conversations encouraged students to reflect on their own habits and consider strategies for reducing distractions and creating a healthier relationship with technology.

The experience also connected naturally with The Rye Commitment by asking students to think critically about the digital world around them, communicate about their experiences and make thoughtful decisions that support their learning, relationships and well-being.

A special thank you to the RMS PO for bringing Max Stossel to speak with our middle school students and share his insights and perspective with them. Through conversations like these, Rye Middle School continues to provide students with opportunities to develop the awareness and skills they need to navigate an increasingly digital world.