How To Cultivate A Culture Of Connection In The Digital Age | Anne Moss Rogers | Episode 100

Human beings need to live in a culture of connection. We crave real connection; seeing people’s faces, feeling human touch, and having conversations that leave us feeling heard and understood. Today’s digital age is fast paced and superficial, leaving us feeling isolated and disconnected. Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler talks to suicide prevention expert Anne Moss Rogers about how parents can help create a culture of connection. She shares ideas and strategies for raising teens to feel heard and teaching them to use social media so it supports mental health and wellness.

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A Favorite Quote from the Show: 

“That which we thought would bring us closer together has pushed us apart.”

High Points of Our Conversation on Creating a Culture of Connection in the Digital Age:

Charles was a very empathic child. He needed more holding, cuddling, and lap time. As he got older, he wanted kids to come outside and play. Unfortunately, kids were often seduced by screens and video games and didn’t want to play outside.

We need face-to-face connection.

Our society has experienced a breakdown in community. Bigger houses, air conditioning, and high fences are all isolating us. This isolation is creating loneliness which is extremely unhealthy.

How do we create a culture of connection in the digital age? We can integrate technology into our activities. Anne Moss’ children were encouraged to gather a group of children and create YouTube videos. They were interacting and connecting with other children, being creative, and still utilizing technology.

It is essential that we make time for people.

Model it! Stop bouncing from thing to thing and living with an overcrowded calendar. Make time to meet with friends and spend time with people. Your kids will notice.

If you don’t have friends to meet with, try a group activity like a meditation, exercise, yoga, or cooking class or volunteer. While you’re out, be open to small conversations and exchanges. Connection can come in small moments.

It’s important for us to move out of our comfort zones. We tend to do the same things over and over. However, creativity happens outside of those zones and so does connection.

There is good in social media and it can add value to our lives when used carefully. Just remember that what we do on social media isn’t real connection.

Teens feel pressured by what they see on social media. They find out all they aren’t part of and end up feeling isolated.

Anne Moss asked students at a high school if they felt lonely or insignificant in the last 90 days and 95% said yes. One contributor was social media. Kids post something and don’t get enough likes or shares and they feel like people don’t like them or don’t care. The reality is that social networks are run by algorithms and their friends may not have seen their post. They end up taking the lack of response personally when there isn’t even a person involved.

Parents can help by setting limits on devices and helping kids learn balance. Also, parents can listen more and lecture less. If you’re thinking about what you want to say while your child is talking then you’re not listening.

Stop. Listen. Ask questions. Let them come up with a solution.

Our kids need to be heard.

Ask your child to choose a Wisdom Guide, one other adult who they can talk to if they struggle.

Resources Mentioned in Show:

DIARY OF A BROKEN MIND: A Mother’s Story, a Son’s Suicide, and the Haunting Lyrics He Left Behind

Our Guest Anne Moss Rogers:

Anne Moss Rogers is a TEDx speaker and owner of the popular Emotionally Naked blog. She is a social media and content marketing expert who turned into an ‘accidental leader’ as a suicide prevention advocate after her son Charles, who suffered from depression and addiction, died by suicide in June 2015. Her blog, Emotionally Naked, which focuses on subjects including suicide, grief, addiction, and mental illness reached over a half million views in its first three years. Her first book, Diary of a Broken Mind, was published in October 2019 and includes her son’s song lyrics.

To learn more or connect with our guest visit https://annemoss.com/

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