Scroll Smarter: Offline in an online world

July 14, 2026

July 14, 2026

Hi there!

Happy summer! Today’s issue is a lighter scroll. We’ve included an interesting Family Q&A with a question from a parent raising screen-free kids. And we’ve got a reader poll at the bottom.

We’ll be back next month with our regular format.

— The Scroll Smarter team

in this issue

Family Q&A | Reader poll

A child character sits on the floor holding a pencil surrounded by papers, books and a pair of scissors. Musical notes float in the air and a smartphone is crossed out.

Offline in an online world

Question:

My children don’t have access to smartphones or social media. How can I help them stay informed of trends and issues that their peers face online?

— Screen-free family

Answer:

It’s not easy to raise screen-free kids in a world where so much unfolds online. But it is possible to help them stay informed without a smartphone. Being informed isn’t the same as being online.

Our 2024 teen survey found that most teens (97%) say they regularly use at least one social media platform. Your kids may not be seeing the same content as their peers, but keep in mind that even teens who use social media typically have very different — and personalized — online experiences. Sophisticated suggestion algorithms learn your personal patterns and interests and then recommend content that is deemed likely to keep each individual user engaged and scrolling (and consuming targeted ads). One person may be seeing makeup tutorials and cat videos, while another may see video game clips or cooking hacks.

There are plenty of screen-free ways to stay informed and connected. Here are a few approaches:

Read a print newspaper or magazine. While our teen survey found that 83% of teens get their news on social media, newspapers and magazines still offer a valuable way to stay informed on current events. Reading an article in print removes the distractions of online comments or notifications. Print also upends algorithms selecting content that optimizes engagement; instead, editors choose stories based on interest, importance, impact and uniqueness. If you come across an article you think your kids would like, try reading it aloud to them or having them read one to you. There are also niche publications, like child-friendly or special interest magazines, that may appeal to your kids.
Print out posters and spend time examining them. “The Information Ecosystem Depends on News” explains how the news-driven ecosystem forms an information web and helps kids identify news and content about news. (There’s a more printable 8.5-by-11-inch handout of this poster too.) For an understanding of online tools and platforms their peers are using, the “Teen safety: 6 tips for using AI and social media” infographic is another handy one to share.
Make and share mini zines. Analog items are trending — and that includes zines, which only require a sheet of paper to make. Here’s one about the information ecosystem and ways we can keep it healthy, based on the poster. It’s ready to print and comes with instructions on how to fold it. Here’s another one on AI and social media, also based on the poster. Is there a topic your kids want to explore? With an 8.5-by-11-inch paper and coloring tools, they can make their own mini zine.
Check out the “Unplugged” page at newslit.org/unplugged. This page has more posters and resources. There are also fun items like this set of four bookmarks on zoning information, navigating AI, evaluating evidence and understanding First Amendment freedoms.
Hang out at the library. Libraries help young people build news literacy skills, like finding credible sources. They’re also a good place to connect with your community and librarians who can point you toward free resources — including newspapers, classes and other activities.
Have honest family conversations about where you get news and information about what’s going on in your community and the world. Explain how you decide what information is credible, accurate and fair. Talk about the importance of getting news from a variety of quality sources.

If your children hear about a viral topic or trending news story from friends, encourage curiosity and talk about it. Use these moments as opportunities to think critically together. Ask them to consider: Why is this topic getting attention? Who shared it and why? How can we verify that it’s factual?

Developing critical thinking skills can help kids navigate the information they encounter now and prepare them to thoughtfully engage with current events and news regardless of the platform or medium.

➡️ Do you have a question for us? Share it in this form and we may answer it in a future issue. We can address questions about artificial intelligence, social media, journalism, misinformation and more in a family-oriented way.

ASK A QUESTION

⭐ You’ll win swag from the News Literacy Project if your question is picked! Questions may be edited or rephrased for clarity and length.