Digital health and safety expert speaks to Chelmsford students
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Katie Greer discusses social media, online gaming, cyberbullying with middle schoolers
CHELMSFORD, Massachusetts (Jan. 23, 2025) – Students at Parker and McCarthy Middle Schools in Chelmsford were visited on Thursday, Jan. 23, by Katie Greer, a digital health and safety expert, who discussed myriad topics, including social media, online gaming and cyberbullying.
“They have been responsive and attentive and had some really good questions,” she said of the middle schoolers. “It’s been super-productive.”
Greer has spent nearly 20 years going to schools, colleges and universities across the country speaking about both the good and the bad that can come from having an online presence.
Digital Health and Safety Expert Katie Greer speaks to students at McCarthy Middle School in Chelmsford on Thursday, Jan. 23.
“Because I’ve done this for so long, I see what works and what doesn’t work, and developmentally take that into consideration,” she said of catering presentations to her audiences. “Sometimes I pivot on the fly, too. You can tell by the feel of the crowd. … My demeanor changes based on the grades, too.”
Because of the everchanging nature of technology and the digital landscape, Greer said she is constantly shifting and updating her presentations.
“I love that no two audiences are the same,” she said. “Not only are no two days the same for me, but also no two presentations are ever the same for me. That keeps me on my toes and I learn so much from these kids.”
Greer said she doesn’t lecture kids about what’s appropriate and what’s not. Her approach is to walk teens and tweens through a decision-making process that considers the immediate and long-term impact of everything they do online.
“My biggest goal is for them to think a little bit differently about technology than they’ve thought about it before,” she said. “I think something that’s made this really successful for me is it’s not lecturing at them. … So if I can get them to think outside the box about the technologies they’re using, I feel like I’ve done my job.”
In addition to the presentations for the students, Greer also held a 45-minute presentation for parents who might find parenting through the digital world a bit difficult.
“I think parents are really overwhelmed right now because we didn’t grow up with this stuff,” she explained. “Trying to help our kids do it safely and be productive while they’re doing it is a giant challenge. We don’t know this world as much as they do. So, I try to empower parents to just do a little bit of research and a little bit of work on trying to learn more and not bury their heads in the sand.”
Digital Health and Safety Expert Katie Greer speaks to students at Parker Middle School in Chelmsford on Thursday, Jan. 23.
About Chelmsford Public Schools
The Chelmsford Public School District provides all students with multiple pathways to optimize their own potential for academic excellence, leadership, and social and emotional wellness. The mission of the Chelmsford Public Schools is to educate, engage, prepare, and empower well-rounded and knowledgeable learners to PERSEVERE through challenges, demonstrate RESPECT and INTEGRITY in their words and actions, are DEDICATED to their community, and display EMPATHY as global citizens while discovering and pursuing their full potential. This PRIDE-driven culture enables all members of the school community to support the growth and development of students. For more information, please visit www.chelmsfordschools.org.
