Helping Teens Navigate Social Media, Safely and Ethically

The Ethics Institute at Kent Place School’s REBOOT (Rethinking Ethical Behavior Online for Oneself Together) program empowers students to take charge of their digital lives by making data-informed and ethically minded decisions that support their social and emotional well-being. One of REBOOT’s strongest Upper School initiatives is the student-led podcast series Tapping In.

Tanseem A. ’25, a REBOOT student leader and cohost of Tapping In, says the underlying message conveyed by the podcast is that although social media aren’t inherently bad, users’ relationships with the various platforms may become increasingly unhealthy over time.

“Through expert interviews, panel discussions, and narrated stories, we promote a healthy relationship with social media,” says Tanseem, “calling on listeners to be conscientious about the content they’re consuming and aware of how they’re engaging with it.”

To date, among Tapping In’s teen-oriented topics have been body image, human trafficking, mental health, and misinformation — the latter of which is a consequence of using social media as news sources.

Tara K. ’26, who was a student leader and cohost last year and will serve as editor and producer for the podcasts this fall, says the initiative has been a fulfilling experience. “In addition to learning important skills about audio editing and equipment handling,” she says, “I’ve gained knowledge about project management, such as how to plan and execute episodes from conception to release. I’ve grown as an ethical thinker and honed my critical-thinking skills. Preparing for episodes requires extensive research and analysis.”

What’s next for Tapping In? Launching QuickTap, a series of seven-minute informational episodes on current events.

This article is featured in the fall 2024 issue of Kent Place magazine.