MANTI—Manti High School participated in White Ribbon Week last week, an event designed to teach students how to use social media and the Internet safely. This year’s theme was “You Have the Power.”
The week was planned by the 12 student body officers, who directed activities around daily themes that had to do with making smart choices online.
According to Linda Blake, technology specialist for the high school, the event is meant to encourage students to engage in more face-to-face conversations and quality time with family and friends, without the constant distraction of screens.
Technology is a wonderful tool, Blake says, but it also depends on how students use it. Students need to be aware, of what they’re posting on social media and how much time they spend on devices.
On each day of White Ribbon Week, students dressed up to match a theme, such as “lazy day” (scrubs, sweats, etc.) or “before phones” day (dress as someone who lived prior to 1876).
There were also daily lunchtime activities to create awareness of a specific online safety issue. Some of the lunchtime activities were a virtual reality game, a photo shoot and a scavenger hunt, where students needed to find the pictures posted around the school of common social media apps.
Additionally, students watched a video on how smartphones affect their lives and were invited to participate in a school-wide essay contest. Prizes for the winners were $100 for first place, $75 for second, $50 for third and $25 each for two honorable mentions.
Essay contest subjects included becoming aware of your digital footprint, the benefits of putting down your phone and making memories in “real life,” and the benefits and drawbacks of technology in our current society.
