Emily Allen: Columnist
“I think therefore I am”, Descartes famously said. The Enlightenment philosopher held knowledge as the key facet of what it means to be human. Indeed for generations, the school room, where pupils obtained education and knowledge from a young age, was the primary environment where young people started to develop their sense of self.
In classrooms and on playgrounds, within the fixed structure of the educational system, children learned not only academic knowledge but also social norms and etiquette, identity, and personal values. However, in today’s rapidly changing world, especially following on from the global shockwaves that followed the Covid-19 pandemic and the rise of smartphones, the question arises: are our formative years still taking place in traditional schools, or have they shifted to new, uncharted waters?
While schools remain a major influence in shaping young minds, they are no longer the sole influences on children’s personal development. Digital platforms, social media, online communities, and even video games have taken on a significant role in defining how children form their identities. Young people today navigate multiple environments simultaneously, each contributing to their self-concept in different ways. They may learn different rules and values from these different environments too, as their lives are arguably far more fragmented than those of children twenty or thirty years ago.
THE INTERNET IS BECOMING
THE TOWN SQUARE
FOR THE GLOBAL VILLAGE OF TOMORROW.
BILL GATES
It is no longer uncommon to see nursery-aged children and even toddlers with smartphones. During the Covid-19 pandemic children were unable to go to school and meet with friends and teachers. Their education and their socialisation were both relegated to isolation save for a computer screen and a live video link.
While children did eventually return to bricks and mortar schools, the online prevalence of socialisation remained. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit, and immersive video games and virtual spaces have created spaces where young people can express themselves, create avatars, gain validation and virtual “likes”, and even experiment with identity.
These digital spheres offer children exposure to perspectives and cultures that they may not come across in their everyday lives, but they also come with risks, such as exposure to harmful content and unrealistic body or beauty comparison content.
As is the case with many modern-day conundrums, the answer is rarely black and white. Children today are growing up in a world where digital interaction is a critical part of their development.
Unlike past generations, where childhood revolved predominantly around outdoor play, face-to-face socialisation, and structured schooling, today’s youth experience a more fragmented and hybrid upbringing. Their formative years are shaped by physical and virtual experiences, creating opportunities and challenges that must be navigated carefully.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of these new formative arenas depends on balance. Schools, parents, and mentors such as teachers still play a crucial role in providing structure, critical thinking skills, and ethical frameworks to children as they grow.
The challenge that needs to be dealt with carefully is integrating these new sources of influence wisely, rather than just rejecting them offhand. This will offer the best chance of ensuring that a child’s self-development remains a thoughtful and deliberately intentional process rather than an accidental byproduct of uncontrolled immersion in a world behind a screen.
In an era where identity formation occurs in an ever-expanding landscape that grows at a breathtaking pace, the most important skill young people can develop is discernment – that is, understanding which influences to embrace, which to question, and which to reject.
Our formative years are no longer confined to a classroom; they are everywhere, unfolding constantly in the vast, interconnected world of today.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to navigating this world, but gaining a sense of perspective might be a good place to start.
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