Contents
- 1 Goal
- 1.1 Required materials
- 1.2 Tips for facilitators
- 1.3 Glossary example
- 1.3.1 FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
- 1.3.2 YOMO (Joy of Missing Out)
- 1.3.3 Vamping
- 1.3.4 Doomscrolling
- 1.3.5 Snapchat Streak Anxiety
- 1.3.6 Social Comparison Trap
- 1.3.7 Filter Fatigue
- 1.3.8 Notification Anxiety
- 1.3.9 Digital Disinhibition
- 1.3.10 Algorithmic Self Adjusting
- 1.3.11 Brainrot
- 1.3.12 Digital Dopamine Loops
- 2 Steps
- 3 Reflection
- 4 Variation: Creating Definitions
Goal
To support young people in recognising, naming, and reflecting on common digital habits and experiences—without judgement—by using a shared vocabulary that fosters empathy, emotional awareness, and critical thinking about digital life.
Required materials
- Printed or digital version of the Glossary of Digital Habits
- Flipcharts or paper for group notes
- Markers/pens
- Optional: individual reflection sheets or digital diaries
Tips for facilitators
- Avoid pathologising terms like “addiction.” Focus instead on patterns, contexts, and emotional impact.
- Include your own reflections to normalise these experiences across generations.
- Adapt terms or examples to the cultural and linguistic context of your group.
Glossary example
FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
Anxiety caused by the sense of being left out of online conversations, events, or content. Often driven by social media and the illusion that “everyone else is having more fun.”
YOMO (Joy of Missing Out)
A counter-response to FOMO: embracing disconnection as a form of self-care, mindfulness, and reclaiming control over one’s time and attention.
Vamping
Staying up late at night using phones or devices, especially in bed. This habit affects sleep quality and leads to fatigue, yet is often framed as “normal” digital downtime.
Doomscrolling
Compulsive consumption of negative news or distressing content—especially before sleep. This can amplify anxiety, hopelessness, or emotional overload.
Snapchat Streak Anxiety
The pressure to maintain daily Snap streaks with friends. What starts as fun can turn into a social obligation, reinforcing the idea that digital contact = real closeness.
Social Comparison Trap
Feeling “less than” after comparing your life to the curated, filtered highlight reels of others online. Can lead to self-doubt and lowered self-worth.
Filter Fatigue
The emotional toll of constantly editing and curating your appearance or personality to meet social media expectations—leaving you drained or disconnected from your real self.
Notification Anxiety
Stress from waiting for or receiving notifications (likes, messages). Reinforces dependency on digital validation for emotional reassurance.
Digital Disinhibition
The tendency to say or do things online that you wouldn’t in person—due to anonymity, lack of eye contact, or perceived distance. Can increase risk of conflict or harm.
Algorithmic Self Adjusting
How you post or behave online based on what you think the platform—and its algorithm—will reward or promote. Can lead to loss of authenticity.
Brainrot
A slang term for mental exhaustion or numbness from endlessly scrolling shallow, repetitive content (e.g., TikToks, memes). Leaves you feeling disengaged or empty.
Digital Dopamine Loops
Short, high-reward interactions like likes, swipes, or alerts that trigger dopamine spikes. These loops can reinforce compulsive checking and scrolling behaviour.
Steps
1. Introduction (10 min)
Briefly introduce the activity by explaining that many digital behaviours (like scrolling at night or checking for likes) are shared experiences—not individual problems. The goal is to understand and reflect digital habits, not to evoke blame or shame.
2. Glossary Walkthrough (15–20 min)
Present the glossary terms one by one or in small groups (see suggestion above)
The selection of terms should always be adapted to the characteristics of the participant group — including age range, gender, cultural background, and the specific behaviours or issues the activity aims to explore.
3. Group Discussion (20–30 min)
- Which terms feel familiar or relevant for you?
- Which habits feel empowering or fun?
- Which feel stressful or draining?
- How do these habits affect your emotional or mental well-being?
- What could healthier digital habits look like—for you or your peers?
Reflection
Close the activity by summarising the main insights. Highlight that naming behaviours is the first step in reclaiming agency. Emphasise the value of emotional awareness over guilt.
Variation: Creating Definitions
Invite participants to work in small groups to define the terms themselves, starting from free association, personal interpretations, or real-life examples.
This variation encourages participants to connect the concepts to their own experiences before comparing these with predefined definitions. Such, the variation promotes a bottom-up approach, starting from what they already know or feel, This can lead to a discussion that participants personally find more meaningful.
Reflection prompts:
- How do these habits affect emotional and mental well-being?
- Which behaviours feel empowering or supportive, and which tend to be draining or stressful?
- What might healthier or more balanced alternatives look like—for everyone, regardless of age?
This framework aims to normalize discussion around digital life, encouraging self-awareness and empathy rather than guilt or disconnection.
Adaptation
This method can be adapted for:
- Younger groups (13–16) by using visual cards or quizzes
- One-to-one sessions with digital diaries or self-assessment tools
- Workshops for educators to foster intergenerational dialogue
Handbook: More than Go with the Flow
- A handbook on Digital Citizenship Education, created in the frame of the project DIYW-ROAD/Competendo. Digital Youth Work - rights-sensitive, open, accessible, democratic.
- Unless otherwise stated, authors and editors of the methods published in the project are Elisa Rapetti, Markus José Plasencia Kanzler, and Nils-Eyk Zimmermann
