13 Conversation Starters Inspired by ‘Being 13’

Over a year ago, The New York Times put out a call for teenagers who, with their parents’ permission, would let a reporter write about them. Of the hundreds who responded, three girls from three states — Addi, Anna and London — became the subjects.

They kept diaries, sent text messages and recorded voice memos about their days. Perhaps most important, they let a Times reporter, Jessica Bennett, see what was on their phones — the videos they watched, as well as the direct messages and texts they exchanged. The result is a vivid, multimedia look at what it’s like to be 13 today, at a time of dire headlines about what social media is doing to teenage brains.

One piece of advice from the series: Instead of banning teenagers from social media, try talking about it with them. Teenagers want adults to listen to them, and to create an open environment for discussing both the benefits and the drawbacks of life online.

That’s where we come in. If you’re new to The Learning Network, we’re a free resource to help people teach and learn with the news. Every school day, we post a discussion forum about something in The Times, and teenagers around the world contribute their thoughts. For this one, however, we’re inviting comments from teenagers and adults alike. Anyone who is 13 or older is invited to contribute to what we hope will be an interesting and lively intergenerational conversation about these issues.

Below is a set of questions inspired by “Being 13” to get you started. You might explore them at your dinner table, in your classroom or with family or friends. Then, when you’re ready, we hope you’ll post a comment here — or respond to something that someone else has said. And if you’re a teacher, we also have a related lesson plan.