Working With Screen Addicted Young People

This webinar from Critical Agendas addresses one of the most pressing challenges facing educators in 2026: screen addiction among young people. As schools grapple with the pervasive impact of excessive screen use on student attention, learning, behaviour, and wellbeing, this session provides educators with the understanding and practical strategies needed to support students in developing a healthier relationship with technology. Presented by Aphra, an educator with 17 years of experience teaching Indonesian and Art across P–12 settings, the webinar draws on both her teaching expertise and her academic background in psychological sciences. Aphra completed her Bachelor of Psychological Sciences at Deakin University in 2024 and her Honours in Psychology at Federation University in 2025, with her honours thesis focusing on the wellbeing of early career female teachers. This combination of classroom experience and psychological training gives her a uniquely informed perspective on the mechanics of screen addiction and its impact on young people's educational engagement. The session covers how screen addiction works at a neurological and behavioural level, strategies for supporting students to make the best of their educational opportunities alongside screens rather than being ruled by them, and approaches that school leadership can use to support families struggling with screen addiction at home. For educators, support staff, and school leaders seeking evidence-informed guidance on navigating the complex relationship between young people and their screens, this webinar provides practical, immediately applicable strategies grounded in current psychological research.