Preventing Digital Disasters (PDD) is an evidence-informed, fun, and dynamic workshop designed to increase critical and consequential thinking as it related to participants’ use of new and social media. It allows participants to come to their own conclusions about their relationships with new media. We don’t wag fingers, shame, or attempt to scare – we make a safe space for youth to think and decide for themselves about this issue by imparting new media literacy in a non-judgmental environment.

Program

The program addresses a wide range of topics to promote media literacy and allow participants to discover the power of media for themselves through examinations of media's history, power, and recent key issues. Participants will also learn: 

How the brain interacts with new media, the affects of new media on neurology, behavior, and psychology.

How new media can amplify voices, create and give power to ignored issues or populations, and promote or accelerate change

How to develop a new media plan for safer and more effective use of new media

How to develop a social marketing campaign with different digital media including films, posters, and memes

Take a look at some PPD campaigns below.

PARTICIPANTS

Our ideal group size for a PPD intervention is a minimum of six and a max of 15. The program is perfect for adolescents between ages 12 and 22. We keep participants within the same age range and most often implement with 14-17 year olds.

Preventing Digital Disasters can work for very young people (under 12) if tailored specifically as an etiquette and media primer. The program can also be adapted for special needs populations. 

LETTING YOUTH TEACH PDD

We have trained youth educators with Planned Parenthood to facilitate the Preventing Digital Disasters for their friends and peers. Youth participants and facilitators alike internalize what they learn and remember it longer when the process is completely youth-driven.