Dr. Kara Alaimo

Implementing low-tech weekends, taking a hiatus from Instagram and tracking screen time are some of the ways kids are trying to unplug… but disconnecting from the influence of social media is way more complicated than simply deleting or restricting access to an app.

Kara Alaimo comes to GPS to demonstrate how social media may be affecting every aspect of our lives—from relationships and parenting to physical and mental wellbeing.

What does it mean to live in the world social media has created, whether one is constantly connected or has deleted accounts forever? Alaimo will reveal why so much of the content we find in our feeds is designed to hold us back. She will also explain how news is crafted to prey on our vulnerabilities. Alaimo will call out the subtle (and not-so-subtle) disinformation found online and share strategies for how we can use the platforms to empower ourselves and others for good.

Kara Alaimo, PhD is author of “Over the Influence: Why Social Media is Toxic for Women and Girls – And How We Can Take It Back.” She is an Associate Professor of Communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her work has been published by media outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Los Angeles Times, Harvard Business Review and numerous academic journals.