The 8th edition of the Virtual Classroom series took place on 12 May 2025 at 15:00 CET, offering participants an insightful and interactive session led by Carolin. With a focus on digital health, social media, and youth initiatives, the session encouraged critical thinking and personal reflection on the impact of technology in our daily lives.
Carolin opened the session by embedding interactive questions to stimulate dialogue and reflection among participants. She introduced the concepts of digital health and social media, framing them as interdisciplinary topics with both positive and negative implications. Among the benefits discussed were enhanced mental well-being, creativity, educational access, and professional networking. However, Carolin also drew attention to challenges such as cyberbullying, privacy concerns, social media addiction, and sensory overload.
A lively discussion unfolded around personal digital habits. Carolin and Annett compared their smartphone and social media use, revealing contrasting habits. Annett noted she never turns off her phone and rarely uses Facebook, while Carolin emphasized intentional use of digital tools. Katja encouraged everyone to check their screen time, sparking a candid sharing of statistics in the chat: Tadej and Hana reported over 160 daily phone pickups, while Annett and Taja shared screen times of 27 minutes and 2 hours 44 minutes respectively. The discussion highlighted generational differences in digital consumption.
Carolin also introduced strategies for managing screen time and digital consumption, including taking regular breaks from social media and avoiding devices before bedtime to improve sleep quality. The conversation then shifted to promoting youth initiatives. Annett showed interest in using platforms like TikTok and Instagram, while others suggested interactive tools like Instagram quizzes to gather feedback and spark engagement.
The session concluded with a call to action: participants were invited to continue sharing ideas in the chat and to join the upcoming Virtual Classroom, which will focus on project management skills.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Virtual Classroom series continues to explore relevant and timely topics for youth engagement in the digital era.
