The White Hatter

07/04/2025

Consent Isn’t Just About “Yes” or “No” Anymore

When we talk about consent, the default conversation still often revolves around a simple legal binary, did they say yes or no? While this legal framing is important for upholding accountability, it barely scratches the surface of what consent actually looks and feels like for youth, especially in today's “onlife” world, where physical, emotional, and digital boundaries constantly overlap.

Today’s teens are not just navigating in-person relationships, they are developing, expressing, and negotiating boundaries through screens, apps, texts, emojis, and social media platforms. In this complex ecosystem, conversations about consent are being challenged, and redefined, not just by peers, but by cultural narratives, platform algorithms, online po*******hy, influencers, and persistent power dynamics tied to gender, race, identity, and visibility.

For teens growing up online, consent is no longer a one-time checkpoint, it’s a conversation. It’s about context, clarity, and comfort, not just compliance.

To read our full article, click this link https://www.thewhitehatter.ca/post/consent-isn-t-just-about-yes-or-no-anymore

07/04/2025

Summertime is when we make changes to our digital literacy programs and develop new resources.

Here’s a bit of a behind-the-scenes look at where we are currently editing some new material!

07/03/2025

Are Boomer and Older Gen X Parents Over-Coddling Kids In Today’s Onlife World More Than Previous Generations, and At What Cost?

At The White Hatter, we think it’s a fair question to ask, “Are today’s anxious and overzealous parents, particularly Boomers and older Gen Xers, coddling their children more than previous generations?” When we look at some of the everyday choices being made by some parents and caregivers, it’s easy to see how many kids may be missing out on experiences that once helped build resilience, independence, and problem-solving skills. It’s been our experience that it’s not the youth and teens that are anxious, rather it’s the parents and caregivers.

To read our thought provoking article on this topic, clock this link https://www.thewhitehatter.ca/post/are-boomer-and-older-gen-x-parents-over-coddling-kids-in-today-s-onlife-world-more-than-previous-gen

Today’s parents, especially Boomers and older Gen Xers, may be overprotecting kids in ways that hinder resilience, independence, and problem-solving. From school drop-offs to outsourcing sibling care, modern parenting often prioritizes safety over skill-building. Kids grow when we guide, not contr...

07/03/2025

What do you think was the most frequently asked question by students this year?

With schools out for the summer, we will soon review and compile the top questions students asked during our live broadcasts this school year!

07/02/2025

How A Student's Question Sparked A Prediction

Last month at a high school presentation, we were asked by a student what we thought was going to be on the horizon for tech in the next 5-10 years. Recently, we came across a compelling video by Sinead Bovell, a futurist and strategic foresight advisor, in which she stated that smartphones, as we know them, are on their way out. (1) We couldn’t agree more, and here’s why.

Sinead’s prediction isn’t just speculative; it reflects a broader technological trajectory that’s already unfolding around us. All the signals are there if we’re paying attention. The physical smartphone, a device we’ve come to depend on for nearly every aspect of modern life, is now gradually becoming a transitional phase, not the final form of digital connectivity.

To read our full article on where we think everything tech is moving to in the near future, click this link https://www.thewhitehatter.ca/post/a-student-s-question-that-sparked-a-prediction

07/01/2025

Happy Canada Day - Proud, Strong, and Free!

07/01/2025

Youth, Technology, and Sleep

A new 2025 study titled, “Role of Sleep and White Matter in the Link Between Screen Time and Depression in Childhood and Early Adolescence” has come out that buttresses what we have been sharing for years, sleep is important when it comes to the mental health of our kids, especially when it comes to their technology.

Researchers, using data from the ABCD study in the United States, followed 976 children in the U.S., starting at ages 9–10. They tracked how much time the kids spent daily on screens (phones, tablets, TVs, video games), monitored sleep, and checked early signs of depression six months later.

To read our full article and to learn what this research said, click this link https://www.thewhitehatter.ca/post/youth-technology-and-sleep

07/01/2025

For those who may not have seen it yet, our website has been updated with a fresh design and several new features, thanks to Brandon. One of the biggest improvements is our fully integrated search function. Just type in a topic of interest, and if we’ve written about it, it will appear instantly. We've also made it easier to access all our free resources and explore the full range of programs we offer. Check it out at www.thewhitehatter.ca

06/30/2025

We suggest setting aside one dinner each week, just one, to focus on open conversations about everyone’s online lives. Use that time to check in with each other about what you’ve been doing, seeing, or learning in the onlife world. This could include everything from favourite apps and new games to conversations about internet safety, privacy, or something unusual that popped up online.

Family dinners are a powerful time to reconnect. They offer a natural setting to build trust, strengthen bonds, and create space for honest dialogue. It’s not about lecturing, it’s about listening and learning from one another. Let kids share what they know too; they often have valuable insights.

But here’s the key, make the dinner table a device-free zone. No phones, no tablets, no distractions. Just people, conversation, and real connection. It might feel awkward at first, especially if screens have become part of your usual routine, but over time this can become a habit that brings lasting value to your family life both online and off.

Digital Food For Thought

The White Hatter

06/30/2025

“This is what parental control looked like on our main communication device when I was a teen in the 1980s. Ahhhh party line memories.”

06/30/2025

Why We Don’t Recommend AI Toys That Replace Parent-Child Interaction

Caveat - We have now had a couple of parents and caregivers ask us about toddlers and the use of AI toys. Here are our thoughts on this!

In today’s fast-moving world, it’s easy to see why some parents and caregivers might turn to AI-powered devices and toys to help manage the daily demands of raising a young child. A talking teddy bear that reads bedtime stories. A voice assistant that answers your toddler’s endless stream of “why” questions. These tools promise convenience, but they come with a significant cost, especially during the early years when your child’s brain is undergoing its most important development.

To read our full article on this topic click this link https://www.thewhitehatter.ca/post/why-we-don-t-recommend-ai-toys-that-replace-parent-child-interaction

06/29/2025

Parenting Tip: No Devices in the Car for Toddlers and Pre-Teens (Except on Long Road Trips)

As tempting as it can be to hand over a screen to keep kids occupied in the car, consider setting a rule: no cellphones, iPads, or laptops for toddlers and pre-teens during regular car rides. The one exception? Long road trips where boredom can test everyone’s patience.

Why does this matter? Car rides offer rare, uninterrupted time to talk with your child, observe their mood, or simply share some quiet space together. It’s a chance for kids to look out the window, be present, let their thoughts wander, or even get a little bored, which isn't a bad thing. Guided boredom can spark creativity and reflection, especially in young minds that are constantly being fed content elsewhere.

Younger children are still developing their ability to be in the moment. Letting them unplug during short drives helps build patience and gives their brains a break from digital stimulation. Use the time to chat about their day, listen to music together, or play simple games like “I Spy.”

The goal, to make space for conversation, connection, and presence in a world that rarely slows down.

Digital Food For Thought

The White Hatter

Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech