Wednesday September 18
7:00 at Blue Hill Public Library
Pearson Room
5 Parker Point Road
Blue Hill, Maine 04614
Between social media, constant connection, and addictive tech and smartphones, the boundaries of privacy are stretched thin. We can track our kids’ every move with apps, see their grades within minutes of being posted, and fixate on their digital footprint, anxious that a misstep could cause them to be “canceled” or even jeopardize their admission to college.
All of this adds pressure on kids, particularly Gen Z, who are coming of age immersed in social media platforms that compete for their attention and emphasize “personal brand,” “likes,” and “gotcha” moments. How are kids supposed to figure out who they really are with zero privacy and constant judgment? Growing Up in Public shows us that by focusing on character, rather than the threat of getting caught or exposed, we can support our kids to be authentically themselves. The key is mentoring, not monitoring.
Drawing on her extensive work with parents and schools as well as hundreds of interviews with kids, parents, educators, clinicians, and scholars, Heitner offers strategies for parenting our kids in an always-connected world. With relatable stories and research-backed advice, Growing Up in Public empowers parents to cut through the overwhelm to connect with their kids, recognize how to support them, and help them figure out who they are when everyone is watching.
Dr. Devorah Heitner is the author of Growing Up in Public and Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World. Dr. Heitner’s work has appeared in the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN Opinion. She has a Ph.D. in Media/Technology & Society from Northwestern University and has taught at DePaul and Northwestern. She is delighted to be raising her own teenager. You can follow her on Twitter @Devorahheitner and on Instagram @devorahheitnerphd.
The Robert K. & Linda B. Slaven Lecture Series seeks to bring distinguished speakers with expertise in a wide array of subjects to Blue Hill to share their knowledge on topics of importance to the community and the world. It is supported by a generous gift from the Anahata Foundation.
Blue Hill Books will be onsite, and copies of the book will be available for purchase. This program is free and sponsored by the Blue Hill Public thanks to the generosity of the Anahata Foundation. If you have questions please contact Kayleigh Thomas at kayleigh.thomas@bhpl.net or call the library at 374-5515.
As part of this Slaven Lecture Series, the library is also sponsoring three community discussion groups, May 9 at 6 PM for educators, July 18 at 6 PM for parents and caregivers, and September 12 at 6 PM for the general public. Copies of the book are now available to check out at the library. If you have any questions about the book discussions, please contact Kendall at kendall.chapman@bhpl.net or Olivia at oliviaz@bhpl.net.