There’s a line from the The Dark Knight Rises film circulating around online: “You merely adopted the dark; I was born in it, molded by it.” That’s how today’s students relate to the internet. They didn’t “log on” one day. They were born into it. Raised with touchscreens and tabs. The internet is the water they swim in.

They are navigating a tsunami of information: facts, opinions, entertainment, ads, algorithms, AI-generated videos, spambots, influencers, news, and memes. That level of stimulation must do something to a person. I haven’t seen any research about it, but I sure see it in my classroom. 

One of the most telling generational shifts is in how young people respond to all this information. Our instinct, as adults who remember dial-up, might be to filter, process, or even pause. Theirs is to engage immediately and constantly. Everything is an opportunity to engage.

• Literal statements? Take them figuratively – post that sarcastic GIF.
• Figurative statements? Take them literally – cue the “Actually…” reply.

There’s no such thing as seeing something and just leaving it alone. In their world, reaction feels like creation. But it’s not, and neither is reposting content. 

So how do we help students find their voice in all this noise?

• We can start by helping them understand the difference between reaction and reflection. Maybe we ask better questions in class, ones that go beyond “What do you think?” and instead ask, “What can you add?” We can help them recognize that creativity isn’t just responding cleverly – it’s about building something that didn’t exist before.
• We can celebrate originality. Not just what is trending. 
• We can intentionally teach media literacy – how to recognize what is reliable out there and what is not.
• And we can talk openly about value. Not just how many likes, but what kind. 

Our students are saturated. The ocean of information is wide, but so is their potential to navigate it. In the early days, we called it “surfing the web” for a reason.

We need to save our students from being dragged by the undercurrent, to show them how to ride the waves. We can show them how to create, not just consume. To think critically, not just criticize.

They don’t need us to take their phones away.

They need us to help them use their voices.

Ed X!