By Sr. Lydia Mukari, SMK

Think about how a teenager navigates their phone today. They do not just search for content; content finds them. Major social media apps like TikTok and Instagram have completely changed. They no longer just show posts from friends. Instead, they use powerful, fast-moving AI discovery algorithms that feed teenagers an endless stream of videos based on their exact specific interests and habits.

This fast-paced digital environment slightly shapes how Kenyan teens speak (using the latest viral Sheng trends), what they wear, and how they view themselves. They are often caught in an algorithmic trap, where a machine decides what they see next.

But a powerful counter-trend just played out in the real world. At the 17th Africa Youth Chess Championship in Uganda, young Kenyan players stood out on the continental stage, winning several top medals through intense focus and careful planning.

Playing chess requires the exact opposite of social media scrolling. It demands foresight, critical thinking, patience, and a strategy. This contrast offers a powerful lesson: we need to help our teenagers stop being passive targets of an algorithm and start being the strategic masterminds of their own digital lives. They need digital agency – the power to make intentional choices online.

We cannot expect young people to build this resilience entirely on their own. They need a strong support system from the adults who shape their world.

To address this need, the Loyola Centre for Media and Communications (LCMC) offers a specialized course titled Media, Children, and Identity Formation. This course gives parents, educators, and media professionals the practical tools needed to help youth break free from mindless online loops and develop strategic digital habits.

Through this course, adults learn to move away from just being the ‘‘tech police’’ who count screen hours or block websites. Instead, the training teaches how to guide children to treat their digital world like a chess game – helping them think two steps ahead about what they click, follow, and allow into their minds. It also challenges media creators to look beyond quick clicks, teaching them how to design positive, ethical spaces that challenge young minds rather than just hooking their attention. For teachers and mentors, the program provides simple ways to teach digital literacy so students can spot how apps try to control them.

Our youth do not have to let an automated feed dictate who they are. By working together and using strategic tools, we can teach them to run their digital journeys with the focus, clarity, and confidence of a strategic thinker.