Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Learning to Listen to Your Inner Voice While Online

DIGITAL LITERACY & WELL-BEING WEEKLY

Learning to Listen to Your Inner Voice While Online

Christine Elgersma

Senior Editor, Learning Content Strategy

Hi Educator,

When my daughter was about four, we encountered an unwelcome opportunity to learn about "icky" feelings. As we stood in line to order sandwiches, I noticed an employee staring intently at my kid. It didn't feel like an "Awwww" stare, which made me feel "Eeewww." As we shuffled along selecting toppings, the person started talking directly to my daughter. That happens sometimes with little kids, but this time, it felt wrong.

He asked her, "How old are you?"

I replied, "Banana peppers, please."

He asked her, "Do you live nearby? Your hair is so pretty."

My daughter, dutifully offering the reply she'd been taught in response to a compliment, said, "Fank you."

But in this case, I didn't want her to be nice and dutiful. I wanted her to start building that inner awareness when something is off, wrong, or "icky," and be able to act on that feeling.

So I made myself model it, in spite of my own internalized monologue about how I could be wrong, was being rude, or could just ignore it:

"Stop talking to my daughter and asking her personal questions. It's not appropriate, and it's making me uncomfortable."

When we got in the car, I explained what I said and why I said it, because I've lived and witnessed how sometimes our inner voice is—literally—a lifesaver.

Though these situations still happen in person, kids often have to navigate them online. Without tone of voice, body language, or often the actual ages of others, circumstances are harder to read. Kids seeking validation from AI chatbots may encounter harmful advice and feedback loops that are predatory in their own way. And it might not be predators or scammers: Peers creating AI deepfakes of people, saying cruel things in group chats, or otherwise harming others should also make those "this isn't right" hackles stand up.

As with many life skills, it's helpful to start introducing them early. And there are lots of opportunities to do it! Of course, we have to hold tech companies accountable, and parents and caregivers play a huge role in these efforts. But educators at every level can play a part as well.

As we teach little kids about safety, sensing, and controlling their bodies, we can also encourage them to identify how icky feelings show up in their bodies. The next logical step is letting them know these feelings can also come up while they're on devices.

Here's a sampling of lessons for little kids:

Safety in My Online Neighborhood (Grade K)
Pause & Think Online (Grade 1)
Internet Traffic Light (Grade 1)
That's Private! (Grade 2)
Icky Feelings (Grade K)

As kids get older, their privacy settings and the amount of personal information they share publicly can make a difference in terms of their overall safety. Group chats can get tricky, online gaming iffy, and pressures intense. Identifying and acting on their inner voice is even more important.

Here are some lessons for older kids:

Privacy Doors (Grade 3)
Level Up: Gaming Safely Online (Grade 3)
Group Chat Dynamics (Grade 4)
Peer Pressure Online (Grade 4)
Online Risk Radar (Grade 5)
Navigating Online Friendships (Grade 5)

When kids turn into teens, feeling marginalized or embarrassed can increase the chances that they'll override red flags to get the validation and connectedness they crave. Ideally, we get right to the root of these issues: Providing safe, positive school cultures where kids feel they belong is a protective measure. But we also need to prepare students to listen to their guts and amplify their instincts by building these skills explicitly.

Below is a handful of lessons for middle and high school students:

Red Flags & Chatting Online (Grade 6)
Boundaries & Consent (Grade 7)
The Pressure to Sext (Grade 8)
Drifting Toward the Chatbot (Grades 9–12)
Designed to Feel Human (Grades 9–12)
Dating Culture & Recognizing Pressure (Grades 9–12)

I have a gut feeling that we got this!

And finally, if you don't want Google to decide what AI and search features schools—and kids—should be able to access, sign this petition to urge them to leave that power in the schools' hands. More to come on this in the coming weeks!

Best,

Chrissy

P.S. Just a reminder: We're sunsetting our old Digital Citizenship Curriculum in December, so make sure to dig into our new Digital Literacy & Well-Being Curriculum before then, if you haven't already!

Fun link of the week: When things are OK … until they aren't.

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HERE'S WHAT ELSE WE HAVE FOR YOU THIS WEEK:

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Sunday, October 18, 2026

Kids' Books About Social Media and Digital Life

The digital life bookshelf · 20 books

Good books.
Better conversations.

Explore social media, friendship, and life beyond the screen. A reading collection for families, educators, and school counselors, with a conversation starter for every book.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The book images, titles, and Amazon buttons below are affiliate links.

Start the conversation

Picture books and graphic novels · suggested starting ages 4–7

Age 4+

Blackout

John Rocco

Let’s talkWhat could your family enjoy together during an evening without screens?

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Tuesday, November 10, 2026

DIGITAL LITERACY & WELL-BEING WEEKLY

Learning to Listen to Your Inner Voice While Online

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Sunday, October 18, 2026

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