Pittsford School’s recent Power Hour on January 4 discussed helpful information about keeping students safe online and when using social media, and what parents and guardians need to know about drug and alcohol prevention.

The Power Hour was moderated by Director of Student Services Shana Cutaia and included a panel of PCSD staff and administrators: Leylan Akyuz, Student and Family Engagement Coordinator; Matt Kwiatkowski, Director of Technology; and Gwen Scibienski, Instructional Technology Teacher.

Social Media

Kwiatkowski and Scibienski spoke about how most parents/guardians can agree that raising kids in the digital age can be a challenge. Students are no longer picking up the phone to talk to their friends but engaging with them through social media. Research shows some of the popular platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) have seen a decrease in usage as youth move to apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. Through these sites, students collect information about current events, stream videos and music for entertainment, and can learn new skills. While there are some positive aspects like staying connected to family and friends, there are also some cons to social media. Scibienski discussed how it contributes to youth mental health issues due to lack of in-person engagement and the ease of comparing one’s life to the unrealistic portrayal of others exhibited on social media.

Social media has also been shown to be a platform for bullying and peer pressure as nearly half (46%) of teens say they have been bullied or harassed online according to Pew Research Center. Scibienski shared that warning signs of cyberbullying could include a child appearing uneasy about being at school, becoming abnormally withdrawn, or unexpectedly stopping the use of their device. If students are being bullied online, parents/guardians should contact their child’s principal.

Due to the risk factors associated with social media, parents/guardians may find it difficult to determine when might be a good time to introduce technology to their child, or provide them with their own phone. Kwiatkowski and Scibienski recommend a slow controlled rollout to incorporate technology into your household through items that allow for parental controls on your child’s devices to limit and monitor screen time, apps and website usage.

Lastly, Kwiatkowski and Scibienski stressed that it is the adult’s responsibility to check in with their kids about their social media use. It is important to remind children that they should never share personal information with anyone online, and what they put out on social media is out there forever, with real-world consequences.

Drug and Alcohol Use

In discussing the risks of drug and alcohol use, Akyuz said the primary indicators include a desire for an uplift in mood, fear of exclusion, coping with physical or emotional pain, and general curiosity or ignorance.

Akyuz cited behavioral changes linked to substance use including reduced attendance in school or preferred activities, declining grades, withdrawal from friends and family, a notable shift in social circles, irritability, alterations in eating and sleeping patterns, financial secrecy, or heightened secrecy in general. She also explained the varying levels of drug or alcohol use which include:

• Substance use: trying something once and stopping.
• Abuse: using multiple times a day while still going to school/work.
• Addiction: feeling of codependency with the substance.

Common drugs used by teens include marijuana, vaping tobacco, alcohol, and prescription amphetamines or benzodiazepines. Akyuz stressed that people should also be aware of the dangers associated with fentanyl, a drug often mixed with other drugs that causes a high overdose risk.

“Similar to social media, we really want to just engage in conversations very frequently,” said Akyuz, who said that it’s beneficial to broach the subject organically, such as when encountering substance use in media or music, without passing judgment.

Resources

• Common Sense Media
• Family Media plan from AAP
• Keeping teens safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids (apa.org)
• Terms of Service; Didn’t Read – Know the Fine Print
• Are Your Children Too Connected?
• Helio Health
• Villa of Hope
• Catholic Family Center
• Health Providers (monroecounty.gov)
• Monroe County, NY - Mental Health - Child & Family Treatment & Support Services (CFTSS)

Pittsford Power Hours are designed to provide an opportunity for parents, guardians, and staff members to interact and learn together to better support our school community.

Save the date for the next Power Hour on disability awareness, March 5 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Calkins Road Middle School. View the latest Power Hour and past presentations at PowerHour.