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Social Media Expert Laura Tierney on Using Tech for Good
The founder of the Social Institute, Laura Tierney, spoke to the Westminster community on Sept. 26 as part of the school’s collective path toward good digital citizenship.
Her presentation in Werner Centennial Center focused on helping students navigate technology and social media in a way that supports their mental health and well-being. Some of her key points included encouraging students to “play to their core” by focusing on their interests, values and goals when using technology. She emphasized the importance of “controlling the controllable” such as setting boundaries and using device features to limit distractions. She also encouraged students to seek joy and positivity through other activities to counteract the impact of social media and screen time.
“The more that you can seek out joy every day it leads you to something else amazing,” she said. “Let’s say the positive habit that you introduce is drawing. So, you start this habit of drawing, and you introduce a focus mode on your device, so it mutes notifications during that time and it allows you to focus on something that you really love and brings you joy.”
She pointed out why seeking out joy is so important. A study published in the recent U.S. Surgeon General's advisory update talked about how time spent on social media per day has been linked to a higher risk of mental health issues, including anxiety and depression.
At the beginning of her presentation, she tested the audience's level of concentration by projecting a grid of numbers from 1-100 in random order and allowing them 60 seconds to find each number in numerical order. Meanwhile, notifications keep popping up on the screen and distracting them.
At the end of her presentation, she asked them to perform the same task only this time without notifications. Most students beat their previous scores, underscoring Tierney’s message that social media and tech can grab your attention and seriously disrupt your concentration.
Tierney left students with a call to action: Introduce a healthy, positive habit as an alternative to "doom scrolling" or other unproductive technology use.
Student RA’s and leaders will track their progress to see how long they can continue that positive habit day after day. She also encouraged students and faculty to work together on ways to use social media positively and powerfully through group sessions or “huddling.” In her view, a strict school policy is not going to change the whole culture.
“It is going to come from decisions that you all make every day,” she told the community. “So, I really hope that you can take one or two things away from this presentation to use tech for good in your lives because it’s not going away. The challenge is how do we harness it for good?”
Laura Tierney is a social media expert who learned as a student that empowering and equipping people to make high-character choices can lead to positive, life-changing experiences. Before founding The Social Institute, Laura worked with K-12 students through leadership programs at Duke University and espnW. She previously managed social media for espnW, Nike, Disney, Procter & Gamble Co and Duke Men’s Basketball. A highly decorated athlete, Laura is a four-time Duke All-American Athlete, two-time team captain, and Duke Athlete of the Decade. She also played for Team USA.
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