Adolescent Near-Peer Mentorship: A YPAR approach to improving group chat etiquette

Digital citizenship education commonly used in schools is often developed by adults and does not sufficiently address youth experiences, their expertise, or the skills needed to successfully navigate digital interactions. Our research used Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) to explore teen group chat behaviors, positioning high school students as mentors and guides for younger middle school students. High school students conducted original research and identified several challenges to harmonious digitally-mediated communication (i.e. group chats). They then designed and delivered lessons to 8th graders on ways to avoid problems and promote positive communication. Results from the 8th graders’ pre and post-test surveys demonstrated increases in knowledge about specific terms and concepts (e.g. upstander, tone) and ways to avoid miscommunication. High school students also showed increases in their own understanding of effective digital communication via group chats, while noting greater interest in research and perception of self as a resource for others. This pilot project demonstrates the effectiveness of near-peer mentoring in promoting digital citizenship, as both the mentor and mentee benefit.