District 202 To Present Special Program On Social Media 'Zombies'

PLAINFIELD, IL — Addicted to your phone? Can't seem to untether from social media? What about your children — how are they faring? Officials with District 202 say social media has become such a dominant force in our lives that it can be dangerous for some people, especially children and adolescents.

The district will address the issue through a special program scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, at Plainfield East High School. "The Screen Zombie — How to Develop a Healthy Relationship with Social Media" will tackle strategies for keeping kids safe online, the positive and negative effects of social media, how to manage your child's use of technology and social media, and some of the privacy concerns involved.

The event, sponsored by the Plainfield Parent Community Network, is free and open to the public. If you can't make it, it will be recorded and linked on the PPCN's website, officials said.

PPCN was founded in 2016 by social workers, special education administrators and counselors to support parents in the district.

"Social media is so prevalent in our world that we as adults sometimes lose track of it in our children’s lives and don’t always understand the impact it can have," said Time Albores, the district's director of high school students services and a co-founder of PPCN.

Jeff Bean, a police officer and president of Safe Schools 4 All, will also be on hand to share information and answer questions about the most popular social media apps among kids and teens and how to define your child's relationship with them.

Officials say professional development credits will be available for all teachers and counselors who attend the program.

For more information, visit: plainfieldparentcommunitynetwork.org.

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