How To Talk To Young People About The Ukraine Crisis

It’s Spring Break week for part of the country, and our family of four traveled to Washington, D.C. for museums, sightseeing, and for me…the privilege of some in-person meetings to break up Zoom fatigue.

I often tell people that my two sons (ages 9 and 13) must think they have the most unfair father on the planet. Or, that they were born the most unlucky digital natives since the coining of the term. While my wife and I have assigned them iPhones (this is important — they are our phones, not theirs), they are tightly controlled via parental surveillance apps and time limits. No unapproved app purchases. No access to social networks. No TikTok or Instagram. No Discord. No Fortnight. And no connected game consoles at home. That’s right — two boys and no Xbox or PS4.

After 15 years of working in the field of digital media and executive intelligence, I’ve seen first hand how easy it is to use digital tools to manipulate adults with “alternative facts”, misinformation, and information overload. Let alone our youth.

After 15 years of working in the field of digital media and executive intelligence, I’ve seen first hand how easy it is to use digital tools to manipulate adults with “alternative facts”, misinformation, and information overload.