“On either side of the screen, on one side of the conversation”

The „On Both Sides of the Screen” campaign was created with the aim of changing how adults view technology and youth's online presence. Instead of focusing solely on the dangers of the internet, the initiative shows that it can also be a space for growth and a place where young people build relationships, discover their passions, and acquire new skills. The campaign's starting point is the belief that teenagers' digital world does not have to be a threat to family relationships.

The centerpiece of the campaign is the guide „On Both Sides of the Screen, On One Side of Conversation,” aimed at parents and guardians of teenagers aged 13 and over. The publication was created as a space for intergenerational dialogue. Without moralizing, judgment, or a fight for the right, but in the spirit of curiosity, respect, and readiness for mutual understanding.

The guide reminds adults that each generation grew up with technologies that older people perceived as incomprehensible or disturbing – from television, to early computers, to Gadu-Gadu, to today's social media. The mechanism remains the same, only the tools change. It is adults – thanks to their life experience – who should take the first step in building a bridge of understanding, rather than expecting young people to do so.

The publication cites current data, including a 2024 NASK report, according to which teenagers spend an average of nearly 5 hours a day online, and there are discrepancies in how parents and children perceive the rules for using the Internet—as many as 57% of parents say they set rules, while only 21% of young people confirm this. The guide also shows that for many teenagers, the Internet is not only a source of entertainment but also a means of learning and developing their interests.

The publication has a practical dimension – it provides caregivers with specific tips on how to have open conversations, collaboratively set rules based on cooperation rather than prohibitions, and build trust, so that young people know they can count on adults in any situation. The campaign encourages treating technology not as an adversary in the parent-child relationship, but as a topic around which closeness and mutual understanding can be built.

Download the free guide: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/po-drugiej-stronie-ekranu