#370 Helping Teens Think Critically

In this eye-opening episode, Colleen O’Grady sits down with Dr. Maree Davies, cognitive psychology expert and author of Teaching Critical Thinking to Teenagers: How Kids Can Be Street Smart About AI, Algorithms, Fake News, and Social Media. Together they explore why critical thinking is one of the most essential life skills for today’s teens—and how parents can help develop it at home.

Dr. Davies explains how social media platforms and AI algorithms are designed to capture attention, influence thinking, and keep teens engaged. She shares practical ways parents can help teens become more aware, more curious, and less vulnerable to manipulation, misinformation, and online rabbit holes.

This conversation is packed with wisdom for raising thoughtful, self-aware, and resilient teens in a digital world.

Key Takeaways:

1. Critical thinking starts with curiosity, not lectures.
Instead of telling teens what to think, ask questions like: Does that sound right to you? What do you think? Where could we verify that? Curiosity builds stronger thinkers than criticism.

2. Parents should model critical thinking out loud.
When parents say things like, Hmm… I’m not sure that’s true. Let’s check another source, teens learn how thoughtful adults process information.

3. Teens need connection, not isolation, to navigate digital life well.
When teens feel safe talking with parents about what they’re seeing online, they are far more likely to ask for help, question misinformation, and make smarter choices.

Memorable Quote:

"Critical thinking is not something we do alone—it grows through talking, listening, and thinking together." – Dr. Maree Davies

Learn More at: https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/mj-davies

Follow at: https://nz.linkedin.com/in/maree-davies-22a39411

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