Workshop for teenagers (recommended for ages 11–14)

TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, gaming, streaming, and WhatsApp—being digital has long been part of our everyday lives. But why do we sometimes spend more time on our phones than we planned? Why are some apps and games so hard to put down? And when are we just scrolling ourselves into unhappiness?

In this workshop, we’ll take a look behind the scenes of our digital world together. We’ll talk about social media, gaming, streaming, and messaging apps, and ask: How do these actually affect us and our self-image? Why do certain apps manage to hold our attention so well? What tricks do companies use to keep us engaged for as long as possible? And how can we tell if a service is treating us fairly?

This isn’t about bashing digital media or telling you how much time you should spend on your phone. Being digital can be fun, connect us, inform us, and spark our creativity. But it’s worth taking a closer look. You’ll bring your own experiences and questions to the table; together, we’ll discuss them and try to take a critical look at our own media consumption. In the end, it all comes down to one question: Are we using our digital media—or are they using us?

Featuring:
Merle Lorenz, sociologist and educational scientist, Center for Behavioral Addiction – DIGITAL – perfectly normal?!