A 14-year-old speaker asks adults to rethink their approach to teens and technology. He explains that while school often feels disconnected from their fast-paced digital world, teens aren’t lazy—they’re engaged in gaming, social media, and creativity in ways that teach real skills. Instead of restricting access ("firewalls"), he urges parents to connect by showing interest—like his dad did when bonding over video games. His solution? Ask, "What’s cool about this?" rather than "Put that away." Matthew Wang is a grade 8 student, U15 basketball player, member of the charity department. He is also an experienced debater -- an HDC champion and best debater, and regular NHSDLC contestant and quarter-finalist. He is also super proud of his ninth-place ribbon at the Star of Hope Speech and Debate Competition. Preparing for a debate or a sports competition requires planning and determination, and success is never guaranteed. But when we devote our time and effort to the things we are passionate about, we learn to enjoy the process, the countless learning experiences, first and foremost.
Matthew’s deep empathy for his friends and fellow teenagers has led him to explore the motivations and hidden meanings of adolescent behaviour with his talk at this year’s TEDxYouth event. In the process of engaging with his classmates and elders, he also gained rare insights into the challenges faced both by the youth of today and of the past. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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