For this webinar series, participants will automatically be enrolled in all 5 sessions.

Speaker

Greg West, M.Ed., WEPS Education

Description

This webinar discusses the impact of technology on adolescents health and well-being from cell phone use through AI.

To receive PDPs and CEUs, participants must attend all 5 sessions and successfully pass a quiz following Session 5. Within 24 hours of the live webinar, registrants will be emailed a link to view the recorded webinar. The recording will be made available for 7 days after each session.

Technological devices and internet access has changed not only how we educate, but also the skills and resources that adolescents utilize on a daily basis. Companies not only promote and distribute data online—they also manipulate and misinform, utilizing information from data brokers and user input/behavior to personalize these manipulations. Becoming aware of how technology molds the online world that we are presented with is the first step in seeing through these manipulations and taking control of our own lives.

By second grade, many students are arriving at school with cell phones—devices that not only expand their access to the online world but also introduce distractions, social conflicts, and potential misinformation. We will examine the existing options for controlling cell phone use both at home and in the schools as well as the addictive behaviors seen in cell phone use.

From dating apps to pornography, technology and web access has revolutionized the availability of sexual content, the opportunities of transactional sex services and the risks of abuse, trafficking and legal ramifications for young people. This session will examine these risks and the importance of educating adolescents of long term ramifications of poor decision-making.

The lack of face-to-face contact and the empathic responses to others in live venues has made bullying easier, anonymous, more cruel and accessible to the masses. Relationships are increasingly tech-dependent/exclusive leading to AI companions replacing friends and incels revolting with anger and aggression at the frustration of lacking human contact. This session examines the tools that are encouraging bullying and the displacement of real friendships and considers the ramifications of each.

Today’s adolescents have grown up not appreciating the value and need for privacy. Data brokers assemble profiles and disseminate personal information that would have been unthinkable in the past. In this session, we will examine the threats to privacy and security as well as options to better restrict invasions of private information and profiling.

About the Speaker
Greg West

Greg West, M.Ed., (he/him) is a retired Health Education teacher of 30+ years. He has designed and implemented middle and high school Comprehensive Health Education programs as well as courses in emergency medicine. He now presents topics of adolescent health and wellness to high school students as well as offering programs for parents and school personnel through WEPS Education.

Membership Information

Most MPY webinars are available ONLY to current staff from member districts and organizations. Public school memberships include police and fire personnel. Former and retired employees and members of committees, including but not limited to, PTO/PTA, PAC, School Improvement Councils, Health Councils, Drug/Alcohol Councils, and school volunteers, are not considered MPY members.

PDPs and CEUs

MPY is an approved Professional Development Provider through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (Provider No. F20180079). Professional Development Points (PDPs) are offered for most MPY professional development webinars. PDPs are issued in 10 hour increments, per DESE requirements.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for clinical staff through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association, Inc. (MaMHCA). The NASW and the MaMHCA approve each event individually. CEUs may be given in hourly increments.

To receive PDPs and CEUs, participants must pass the quiz.

Event Cancellation Policy

If you are unable to attend a MPY webinar you must cancel, through Bonnie Mullen at bonnie@mpyinc.org, one business day before the webinar.

For MPY hybrid conferences, the date in-person registration closes will be posted on MPY’s website. Virtual conference registration will close one business day before the hybrid conference. You cannot cancel or switch your registration from in-person to virtual after in-person registration closes. Please email Bonnie Mullen at bonnie@mpyinc.org with any questions regarding registration.

 

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All sessions are 9:30 – 11:30 am.

  • Session 1: December 3, 2025, Technology and its Influence on Adolescents
  • Session 2: December 10, 2025, The Cell Phone Dilemma
  • Session 3: January 21, 2026, Technology and Sexuality
  • Session 4: March 25, 2026, Bullying, Bots and Friendships with Algorithms
  • Session 5: April 8, 2026, Privacy, Secrecy and Security