Has social media really made us more connected? A sight I see often today is a family sitting at a café: dog barking, baby crying and everyone else . . .  glued to their screens. If this isn’t ringing any bells, what’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? If it’s not checking some social media platform on your phone or tablet I will be surprised.

Is anyone out there … out there?

Functions like statuses on Facebook, as well as ‘my day’ on Snapchat and Instagram give us the illusion of interaction, when in reality a lot of the time no one is replying directly to us. We put out a story for the world to see, and view other people’s stories but there is no tangible connection. Several celebrities have commented recently that fans will come up to them like they’re already best friends but the star obviously has no idea who they are. This is largely due to them being ‘friends’ on Facebook or following them on Instagram or Twitter. It gives a false sense of friendship, to the point that some people are delusional about it. This disconnect even stretches to the point that millennials are confused when someone calls them, rather than texting, as they find phone calls ‘awkward’.

I lived in a share house during university. One day my five housemates were all playing video games with each other … in different rooms/floors of the house with headphones. It was ridiculous! And do you think I could I get a response about dinner out of a single one of them? No. Because the game couldn’t be paused.  They could have all been spending time with each other in the same room, but instead were all locked away in their rooms with the doors shut. Can this isolation lead to anything good? Huffington Post tends to think no, considering that "In 2015, suicide accounted for one-third of deaths (33.9 percent) among people 15-24 years of age.” The Washington Times published supporting research stating that teens who used social media every day were “14% more likely to be depressed than less-frequent social media users”.

Cyber bullying
Cyber bullying has been largely responsible for the rise in mental health issues and suicide due to social media. Bullies can be more cowardly than ever, conveniently able to hide their face, and even their identity. Victims of this bullying can feel like there is no escape, and that the whole world is watching their humiliation, not just a few peers in the school yard. Things put up on the internet are also never able to be truly deleted, so can inflict lasting damage.

Catfishing
While not the same as bullying, catfishing is when someone enters a romantic relationship over the internet with a person who is either not what they seem, or might not even exist! It can only lead to devastation and heartbreak for the person who has been fooled, and this betrayal could lead to major trust issues in the future.

Everyone on their best behaviour – the pressure to be perfect
If you look through your Instagram feed for too long, you might start to actually believe that everyone around you has a perfect life. The pressure to be ‘Instagram-worthy’ while also being able to use the hashtags #organic and #nofilter is at an all-time high. No one wants to post photos that are less than amazing, and we all seem desperate to make all our followers jealous with how fantastic our lives are. The problem with this pressure and falseness is that if we are struggling in any way, we don’t have a safe space to let it out and seek help. On the other hand, if people do post something negative on social media, they are accused of attention seeking. You can’t win, it seems.

Using technology … without letting it use you
The amount of information that young people are sharing on the web today is a little scary. Befriending strangers on Facebook, YouTube commenting, Tumblr, anonymous chat rooms and Snapchat, as well as dating apps like Tinder all encourage young people to expose as much of themselves as possible, and I don’t just mean their phone number. This opens them up to risk of falling prey to predators who use the internet as a hunting ground, and we’ve all heard one too many stories about a lovers’ meeting going awry.

It is important that we know how to use technology responsibly, especially in places like school and university. Ask yourself: is the content appropriate and inoffensive, is the website legitimate and legal, and are there potential viruses in that link? When interacting with someone online, it is best to give out as little of your personal information as possible, especially when you first ‘meet’ them. If an online ‘friend’ wants to meet up, ask if you can bring a friend with you the first time, and make sure the meeting point is in a public place (and always tell someone where you are). Warning: if they insist that you come alone, their intentions are almost certainly bad. Be open with your parents or an adult you trust about the websites and social media platforms you are using (I know it may not come naturally)—they are here to look out for you. Just remember that if you come across something on the internet that seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Part 2 to follow soon....

By Lil Williams, Teen Talk’s in-house blogger

References:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/09/27/australias-suicide-crisis-has-peaked-to-a-terrifying-new-height_a_21480647/, sourced 10 January 2018.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/nov/14/teen-suicides-rise-with-smartphone-social-media-us/, sourced 10 January 2018.

https://www.kidsmatter.edu.au/families/enewsletter/screen-time-and-sleep, sourced 18 January 2018.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/laurie-hollman-phd/effects-of-screen-time-on_b_11407544.html, sourced 18 January 2018.

https://micaicmc2015.wordpress.com/2015/08/06/epw-edit-anti-social-media/, sourced 22 January 2018.

The post Are you using technology … or is it using you? Part 1 appeared first on Teen Talk Production.

Why is fitting in so important to us young people? We buy brands, cut our hair, listen to music, change the way we speak … all in order to fit in, to find acceptance.

“Why fit in, when you were born to stand out?”
– What a Girl Wants

Acceptance is a core desire for us as human beings, but sometimes we sacrifice being who we truly are in order to follow the crowd. Have you ever done something you didn’t really want to do, just because you were afraid of judgement from others, or that you would be left out? There have been times in high school and university when I was left out because of choosing differently to my peers. For example, on some sunny days they would invite me to join them in ditching class to go to the beach. I could have gone to make them happy, and yes the beach would have been fun, but when I looked at the bigger picture, I decided that going to class (and therefore my education) was more important to me and my future.

It is important to do things for the right reasons. If you decide to be a hairdresser because you love hair and want to make people feel beautiful, go for it! But don’t be a hairdresser because someone told you that you were dumb and could never get the marine biologist job that you wanted. It is easy to count ourselves out of the race before we’ve even reached the starting blocks. Can you imagine the regret of reaching the end of your life and looking back wondering if you could have lived a better life, if only you had pursued your dreams?

So what is stopping you from doing what you want to do? Is it fear, a mean or discouraging comment, a lack of self-confidence, a desire to fit in or have people think you’re cool? Whether it’s a career path, a fashion choice, a hobby you take up, or a friend you make, there is always going to be someone who disagrees with you, someone who has a negative opinion about it. You know why I never read the comments on YouTube or viral Facebook posts? Because I’m bound to read something that will make me either sick or depressed. I don’t need that kind of negativity in my life, and neither do you.

If your friends are going to judge you or leave you out because of a choice you make that you feel is right for you, then they don’t really sound like true friends. While you may have people look at you funny, or misunderstand you sometimes, isn’t that better than living your whole life as somebody else? Peer pressure is a real thing—we’ve all felt it—but it doesn’t have to be the thing that defines us.

Being yourself requires bravery, especially when you’re young. It’s healthy to step outside of your comfort zone and push the boundaries of ‘normal’. What is normal anyway? If it’s the opposite of unique and interesting, then I don’t want to be it. If you want to be able to care less what other people think, you have to be confident and comfortable in who you are. To be a truly confident, secure person, you cannot hate any part of yourself.

Instead of being a sheep that follows the crowd, you could be a leader who creates a better environment for the people around you. You may not realise it, but you—your words and your actions—have the power to affect people around you. What do you see in the world that upsets you? What are you going to do to change it?

For example, you might think the world lacks kindness. In your daily life, you can spread kindness to the people you come into contact with. Smile at people you pass on the street, ask the person at the checkout how their day was, volunteer your time at a retirement home. You may say to yourself, “But I am just one person. What difference can it make?”

Never underestimate the power of your efforts. You can’t change the whole world by yourself, but if you be yourself and reach out in love to others, you can change their whole world.

Life is full of opportunities. Sometimes a door opens at exactly the right time and you happen to be the one standing next to it. If it’s a good opportunity, take it before the door closes, or someone else will. Seize the day! Not much of value in this world is easily or quickly attained. Getting an education, having fulfilling relationships, becoming an Olympian or building a successful career or business—none of these happen overnight but all have incredible value. If we don’t do anything that requires effort, our lives will be a string of meaningless nothings. Sometimes we have to overlook the short term pain for the long term pay off. Success doesn’t come from raw talent or genius, but from hard work, patience, and a willingness to try again after failure. Life is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. If you think you’ve failed, it just means you haven’t finished the race.

And remember…

“You is kind.
You is smart.
You is important.”
- The Help

Lil Williams
(Teen Talk’s in-house blogger)
______________________________________________________________

Images (sourced 2 November 2017):
http://spiritualcleansing.org/be-yourself-everyone-else-is-already-taken/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/341007003013953800/?lp=true
https://quotespop.com/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/399624166914078210/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/335588609708565403/?lp=true
http://tradingphrases.com/be-the-change-you-wish-to-see-wall-decals.html

The post Be the Change appeared first on Teen Talk Production.

By Lil Williams
7 September 2017

Preparing to leave school is one of the most exciting times of your life (the prospect of being free after 13 years of ‘hard homework labour’) but can also be a bit daunting. It’s understandable, considering it’s a whole new world once you hit adulthood. Don’t be anxious though; there are plenty of people and resources to get you heading in the right direction.

1. What do I want to do?

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” That is an easier question for some than others. If you’re not sure, don’t worry. You’re not alone.
There are many excellent resources for you to take advantage of. Careers counsellors, friends and parents, teachers, university course guides, tertiary education information nights and campus tours, to name a few.

To start off, here are two questions…

What do you love to do?
What are you good at?

Who wants to spend 40+ years in a job that they hate and are no good at? Not me. Asking your parents or a trusted adult in your life can be a great way to know your strengths, and potential careers that those could lead into. Also, there’s no reason why you have to stick with the one career for the rest of your life.
You could also take a personality test to see what you’re really passionate about, as well as which career paths the results suggest for a personality like yours. Who knows? It may not lead you to a direct job, but it might confirm some directions you’ve been thinking about for a long time. My top recommendation would be the 16 Personalities Test, but you can also take the Myers Briggs Assessment, which the 16 Personalities Test is based on. There are many more tests just a Google search away.

2. How do I get there? Is VCE the only option?

Once you know what you want to do, you need to figure out how to get there. The first question if you are in Year 11 or below is: Is VCE the only option? VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) is a more hands-on alternative to VCE that provides practical work-related experience. If a trade is of interest to you, this would be ideal as it has the flexibility to incorporate specific skills (i.e. woodwork) that get you to your goal faster, or can offer a part-time apprenticeship to get you qualified more quickly. Teen Talk’s guest Rhiannon (DVD 2 & 3) who has dyslexia is an example of someone doing VCAL two days a week and working in a childcare centre for the other three. Thirteen-year-old Michael in DVD 1 was recovering from cancer and used VCAL as a career pathway.

VET (Vocational and Educational Training) courses are a great way to study something not offered in the mainstream high school curriculum, such as sound engineering or graphic design. This can get you studying in your area of interest sooner.

3. Do I have to go to uni?

University is often advertised as the only ‘real’ way to a satisfying career but that is not true. There are many ways to job satisfaction.

Vocational learning pathways such as TAFE and apprenticeships (or a combination of both) are a great way to get into a more hands-on career, where the teaching style is ‘learn by doing’. A big mistake high schools can make is judging a student, or worse yet, misdiagnosing them with a learning disability, just because he or she does not fit into school’s way of learning (primarily, through listening or reading/memorising and taking timed exams). High school and university have a lot of theory or ‘book learning’ but if you are just keen to get your hands dirty, TAFE might be an excellent option for you.

4. How important is my ATAR score?

Is the ATAR the be all and end all? What if I don’t get the ATAR score I want? Is my life over?

Although VCE can often make you feel like that, a number from 1 to 99.95 does not make or break you, or your career. Do your best and give 100% in all things you put your hand to, but sometimes things happen (for example, family or home circumstances out of your control) and you may not get the score you want. Don’t despair. TAFE and other VET or post-secondary institutions will often accept you if a university won’t initially. You can go there straight from high school so you won’t necessarily have to lose time and finish your degree later than you intended. You can often then use your credit points from these institutions to gain second-year entry into a higher education course (like a bachelor degree), or whatever your credit points will allow. There’s no reason why you can’t still have that dream career; you may just have to take the scenic route.

Alternatively, you may have no desire to go to university at all, in which case an ATAR score doesn’t bear as much weight (or pressure). Does this mean you get to slack off in VCE? Sorry, but no. It’s a good idea to still complete VCE if you are unsure what you want to do in your career. What you decide on later may depend on a good ATAR score and education is always an asset.

5. Top Tips for writing a resume and cover letter

• Keep it brief – you want to show an employer that you are efficient and can get to the point without adding in unnecessary information (after all, your resume and cover letter are a indicator of your job performance).

• Proof read! If an employer’s first impression of you is a spelling mistake, you send them the message that you are rushed and don’t really care about precision or accuracy.

• Most recent/relevant information to least recent/relevant – it’s sad but some employers won’t read the whole thing, so if you don’t begin strong, they may not even reach the end. Which information/experience would you not mind if they don’t see? Put it at the bottom.

• Key words – again, it is disheartening but in many cases the first one reading your cover letter is not a person but a computer. If you haven’t used the key words listed in their selection criteria, it’s likely that your application is being scrapped before it even reaches a human.

• Be specific – there’s nothing better than a vaguely worded cover letter to show an employer that you don’t know what you’re talking about. Take time to research the company and tailor both your resume and cover letter to the specific role. Explain in as few words a possible how your own skills and experience can transfer into the position you are applying for. A short paragraph per selection criteria point is usually advised.
This is by no means an exhaustive list and Seek Jobs is one many places to read helpful articles on resume and cover letter writing. Career One also have some handy tips.

6. What if I have some kind of disadvantage?

You might say, that’s all good for most kids, but what if I have a disability, or some other kind of obstacle to achieving my educational and career goals? I’m glad you asked. First off, you are not alone. Secondly, there are people and programs to help. If you or your child are struggling in any of the following areas, the links below provide access to the support you’ll need to succeed in the last few years of high school and help you find pathways to further education and a satisfying career.

For those on the autism spectrum
http://www.powernh.org.au/teens.htm
http://icannetwork.com.au/schools/

Teens with Dyslexia - http://www.alisonlawsonclinic.com.au/ (Teen Talk has interviewed Fiona Summons who was trained by Alison Lawson herself).

Learning disabilities or just struggling to keep up with the rest of your class? Tutoring can be a great help.
Inner-eastern suburbs: http://www.felstead.com.au/
Western suburbs - http://www.emueducation.com.au/

The Les Twentyman Foundation believes “positive intervention equals positive outcomes for our at-risk youth.”
https://www.ltfoundation.com.au/

Support for students who lack funds or resources - https://ncbgroup.org/about-us/

Moving beyond negative body image positive body culture and getting things started in the right direction - http://www.wheelzinmotion.com.au/about.html

Guide to confident verbal communication (book available for purchase through link) - http://directspeech.com.au/newflyerdirectspeech.pdf

Behavioural Therapy (alternate methods of therapy to help young people) - http://dspsychology.com.au/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-melbourne/

If you feel the need for legal aid due to disability, follow this link - http://ddlsaustralia.org/

Click on the following link for some websites that Teen Talk Productions endorse, created to help young people like you with issues including but not limited to mental and physical health, family conflict and legal services.
http://www.teentalkproduction.com.au/links/

7. How do proposed university funding cuts affect me personally?

Right now, the government is proposing to cut $294 million worth of funding from Victorian universities from 2018-2021. Their reason for this is that research has supposedly shown that on average, universities in the state are operating at a 5.9% surplus each year (extra money, so to speak). But because universities are non-for-profit, that money goes straight back into helping the university, which benefits both students and teachers.

The way these funding cuts would affect students individually is that their fees would go up by approximately 7.5% and instead of only having to start repaying their HECS/HELP study loan once they reach an annual salary of $55,874, they may then have to start as low as $42,000. Essentially, this would make university less accessible to the average Australian, leading to industry shortages in the future. Tertiary education expert Peter Noonan is also concerned that budget cuts would lead to a lower standard of university education, attracting less overseas students, which in turn brings in less money for the university, driving the individual course prices even higher.

8. What should I start doing now?

If you are year 10 or lower, make sure that you are strategic in the VCE subjects you choose. There are many university courses that list particular VCE subjects as a prerequisite for entry into their course, in addition to an ATAR score. Doing certain subjects will help you further determine what you like and dislike, and give you the building blocks for your first few semesters at university.

If you’ve decided you want to do a trade/apprenticeship, using an elective to complete a VET course is a great idea or speaking to either a careers counsellor or someone you know in the field you want to enter (for an apprenticeship). Whether we like it or not, contacts can be everything, so use connections that you have to see what doors of opportunity can open up to you.

If you are having trouble making a start or getting organised, this website is here to help you and your parents get organised: http://organisingyou.com.au/. There is also some great coaching for young job seekers: http://www.thecoachingroom.com.au/nlp.html. Several of the people recommended have been interviewed on Teen Talk and all are trusted professionals in the Melbourne area.

Just remember, an ATAR score is just a number. Aim for your best and you can always be proud of yourself. There are many ways to a satisfying career.

Lil Williams
(Teen Talk’s in-house blogger)

_____________________________________________________________
References (sourced 28 August 2017):
IMAGE: https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-my-future-image28293579
http://career-advice.careerone.com.au/resume-cover-letter/careers.aspx?intcid=skr_navigation_CA_resume-cover-letter
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/universities-set-to-lose-12b-in-funding-under-turnbull-government-changes-20170805-gxq0ez.html
http://www.afr.com/news/policy/education/the-alternative-to-university-funding-cuts-could-be-worse-20170725-gxiaoq
https://theconversation.com/many-australian-universities-may-be-in-surplus-but-does-that-mean-theres-fat-to-cut-77244
https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/resumes-and-cover-letters
https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test https://www.mbtionline.com/?utm_source=MBF&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=online
http://www.humanmetrics.com/personality/career-choices
Sourced 4 September 2017:
http://www.teentalkproduction.com.au/links/
http://www.powernh.org.au/teens.htm
http://icannetwork.com.au/schools/
http://www.felstead.com.au/
http://www.emueducation.com.au/
https://www.ltfoundation.com.au/
https://ncbgroup.org/about-us/
http://www.wheelzinmotion.com.au/about.html http://directspeech.com.au/newflyerdirectspeech.pdf
http://dspsychology.com.au/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-melbourne/
Sourced 7 September 2017:
http://ddlsaustralia.org/
http://www.alisonlawsonclinic.com.au/

The post Help! I’m about to become an adult appeared first on Teen Talk Production.

Talking to the teens during the programme production, a common theme with teens of all ages, was Body Image and Peer Pressure.
Teens are concerned about how they supposed to or should look , and there acceptance at school, by this definition.
If they are different ? . What other teens might think of them and how they might be judged by it and the reaction to them, like direct Bullying at school or indirect through Social Media for example, which is worse because the perpetrators enjoy anonymity, without suffering consequences or retribution . This causes severe stress and anxiety to their victims, making them to feel publically ostracized and outcasts, possibly ultimately pushing them into committing suicide to escape.

The media also often portrays unrealistic images of celebrities who are too thin or have supposedly the " Perfect Body ",
What they should strive to be more like ,if they want to be more socially acceptable and have it all. It is a false perception !
It focusses on unhealthy thought processes and then anxiety. Consequences include anorexia, bulimia, agoraphobia and there are also many other associated problems . It causes disssatisfaction with their own bodies and perhaps self- harm and suicide, as severe and devastating final consequences.

It was also brought to my attention in the media about Police finding people trafficking , of also Illegal and dangerous Steroid Use among Teenage Boys.
These Steroids contain harmful substances which cause deleterious effects on their bodies for their future, they should do a search for this, before they do anything to their growing bodies. Substances sold underground are worse because the contents are ambiguous and could contain anything being potentially life threatening, hazardous and deadly. They also have hormonal effects and might cause abberant and aggressive thought processes This is very extreme high risk and dangerous behaviour. It is also a form of subtle brainwashing that if the have a better body, they could have it all !
This also causes them to become inadvertantly narcissistic, self -absorbed, egotistical and vain, with an unrealistic sense of bravado and feeling of being all powerful, not just being confident in their personalities, abilities and skills.
.
I would say many of them should think about becoming more confident in their abilities and skills ie. doing activities, sport, improving their personalities , socializing, volunteering, being healthy and toned naturally not artificially which does not last in the long term and the overinflated muscles soon shrink after a few months, if not sustainable by natural methods or once the artificial substances and stimulants cease.
Enhancing your body naturally is a better,happier way and more sustainable for your future life ie. being healhy, a good diet, enough sleep, outdoor exercise and socializing with friends.

Teenage is a most wonderous time in your life, embrace and enjoy it because it is a fleeting time, in your life. All teens are naturally young and beautiful in their own way. You are all individual and special ( Not ON SPECIAL), that is discounted because you think you have something wrong with you or are different. Your differences in looks , ancestry, talents, abilities, creativity and skills make you unique there are no two people the same in the world, although twins might come close. As a teen I used to ask my mother before I went out, if I looked beautiful, she would answer your "even beautiful enough "and she meant I think now that with all your other positives together, you don't need to perceive yourself to have to be more attractive than you are, "you are real ! ". Also she would say " Beauty comes and goes, it fades but it's more important to maintain yourself well and improve yourself with personality and ability to reinvent yourself as time goes on".
Focus on those things that make you the different special person that is you and turn them into positives which add to your personality and create the interest you attract to yourself by being yourself ,and ignore your critics. . Be happy with what you were born with and enhance it, do the best with what you've got and were given by nature.
From time to time, brighten your smile, give your skin a treat, pamper yourself , go out, do something relaxing and that makes you happy, for your peace of mind !

Please do think carefully about altering your bodies to the extreme unnecessarily by artificial means as some things are not reversible once you get bored with it or they " GO OUT " of style as a fad, you might be stuck with it or the consequences of it. Extreme abberant behaviours are also detrimental to your body, ultimately which affect your long term health, mental health and well being adversely ie. Anorexia, Bulimia, ingesting/ drinking / injecting foreign and harmful substances, altering your body artificially etc. these are not natural and this ages your body at a faster rate, causes other bad effects, lowers your immunity against disease and could ultimately cause organ failure and preventable sudden death.

We all like to be someone else sometimes and It is fun to have an alias or alter ego for a while and experiment and look different in your apperance with hairstyles, make -up, clothes and accessories, until you find yourself and your real identity. These are temporary and usually reversible, so then you might explore another phase, it is all part of growing up and learning who you are and expressing your individuality, and discovering what is the real " Beautiful Person" you !

The post Social Commentary appeared first on Teen Talk Production.