It’s Our Responsibility To Help Them!
Ever had a moment where your professional expertise collides with your personal life and makes you see everything differently…
And now you’ll never un-see it?
That’s me, right now!
My son is 14 and a competitive swimmer. A few months ago he got his first sponsorship. Recently he was selected for his first National team.
While this was an incredibly proud moment, it again highlighted something that’s been bothering me for a while.
Here’s what I mean.
It seems that most teens are on social media, and generally they fall into 2 main groups (obviously with some variation in the middle)….
1. Teens that are very active on the platforms, post regularly (with mostly borderline-inappropriate pictures mainly of themselves) and chase likes and follows at any cost. They are are often “rewarded” with a huge following.
2. Teens that post the occasional story but spend most of their time scrolling and sharing reels in their DM’s.
My son is part of group 2 and because I have full access to his account and can see what’s shared, I was initially relieved.
As a mom, I should prefer that my child isn’t posting.
But as a brand strategist, I realized I was missing something crucial.
The Reality Check
Here are some statistics:
- According to a 2018 CareerBuilder survey, 70% of employers check out applicants’ profiles as part of their screening process, and 54% have rejected applicants because of what they found
- A Kaplan survey found that 66% of college admissions officers consider an applicant’s social media to be “fair game” during the admissions process.
- In a SHRM report, 84% of companies said they leverage social media for recruitment, and 43% use it to screen applicants.
- According to a CareerBuilder survey, 35% of employers are less likely to interview applicants they cannot find online.
These numbers tell a story, and having no digital presence isn’t the answer.
But here’s the problem…
Everything we teach teens about social media focuses on what NOT to do. Don’t post this. Don’t share that. Be careful of this.
Where’s the guidance on what they SHOULD do?
This question has been nagging at me for two years.
As someone who helps businesses build authentic, powerful brand presences, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we’re failing our teens by not teaching them these same principles of “branding”.
The Lightning Bolt Moment
During a recent dinner with some brilliant minds in marketing, I shared the rough outline of my plan.
The response was unanimous… this isn’t just an idea, it’s something I need to actually do!
Because here’s the truth, our kids need a better way to do things, and it’s all about deciding who you are in the world and having the courage (and guidance) to show up!
To do that they need to….
- Establish their values
- Identify what matters to them
- Know the things that make them uniquely brilliant
My Vision
I can see a future where smart teens use social media not for likes and validation, but as a powerful tool to shape their futures. Where instead of chasing trends and hiding behind filters, they’re…
- Sharing their genuine interests
- Building meaningful connections
- Telling their stories appropriately
- Being a force for good in the world!
- Growing a digital presence their future selves will be proud of
NB: This is not a course about gaining followers fast, how to make viral reels or what the latest trending audio’s are!
I am still finalising the details, but here’s what I know…
- It will an online (zoom) course, run over around 3 sessions
- Costs will be minimal as Round One is well…round one! (so you’ll have to bear with possible tech issues or other logistical bumps in the road!)
- I am aiming for early Jan 2025 (when everyone is back from holiday, but before the school rush starts!)
- Please add your details to my mailing list, so I can stay in touch with the rest of the plan!
Chat Soon!
Kira
xxx
