Passing Notes in the 21st Century

Passing Notes in the Pre-Digital Era

Who remembers passing notes at school?  I remember the intricate folding, waiting until the teacher’s back was turned, putting my faith in classmates to pass it to a friend who was across the classroom, hoping no one would open it along the way… Sound familiar?

Well, in the digital era, kids don’t have those problems.  Why? 

Like Jeff Goldblum’s character, Dr. Malcolm, says at the end of the original Jurassic Park movie, “Life will find a way”.  It’s every generation’s job to find ways to get around the rules and today’s kids are no different.

Today’s digital nomads are no different.  They have figured out an ingenious work-around both to circumvent the issue with the note not getting to the right person, as well as the issue of not getting caught passing notes.

21 Century Note Passing

Their solution?  Google Docs

Think about the beauty of it. 

Not only can they bypass most parental controls, but they appear to be working (on schoolwork or homework) to anyone who walks by, rather than chatting because so many kids use Google Docs as part of their daily school routine.   Google Docs even has a chat feature within the app which isn’t saved so not only can they chat within a document, they can have a chat on the side right next to it that isn’t saved. 

Are you thinking that because your kids’ school doesn’t use Google Docs, this doesn’t apply to you?

Not so fast… If your kids’ school uses Microsoft instead of Google, they can do the same thing in a Microsoft Word document or in a OneNote workspace, both of which allow real-time co-authoring/collaboration similar to Google Docs.

So, should you worry?

Maybe yes and maybe no.  Most kids who are “passing these digital notes” are talking about lots of the same things you talked about when you passed those old-school handwritten notes in class – in other words, relatively normal kid and teen stuff that you really don’t need to worry about.  However, some kids do bully, tease, and harass others when they’re communicating online, especially when they think that no one can catch them. 

The simple solution: talk to your kids about digital communication and what to do if they feel bullied or harassed (leave the chat, report what happened to a trusted adult).

Want to learn more about kids and digital communication? 

Follow me online @youdigitalguardian or book a free call.