What’s Really Happening in the Group Chat? | Boston Jewish Now #19

The group chat is not just a group chat. For young people, it is where friendships are built, plans are made, social status is negotiated, identity is tested, and harm can spread quickly. It is also one of the places where students encounter cruelty, exclusion, disinformation, antisemitism, and other forms of identity-based targeting — often away from adult view, but with real consequences for how they feel, learn, and show up in school and in life. In this episode of Boston Jewish Now, Spencer Cronin, JCRC’s Director of Educational Partnerships, speaks with Dr. Jill Walsh, sociologist, researcher, Boston University lecturer, and founder of Digital Aged. They unpack the social dynamics and parts of digital culture parents may not realize are shaping their children’s daily lives online. This conversation is part of JCRC’s broader K–12 work: helping schools understand the online culture shaping students’ lives, respond to antisemitism and identity-based targeting, and build safer, more inclusive school communities for Jewish students alongside all students. Digital spaces can help young people find belonging and connection, especially when they feel isolated offline. But chats, algorithms, viral content, and peer pressure can also normalize cruelty and make it much harder for students to push back when hate shows up. This episode offers families and educators a clearer way to understand the digital world young people are navigating, and practical guidance for talking with them about it so we can help shape healthier school communities and healthier teens. CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction 02:57 Defining digital space 06:00 The positives 12:10 The risks 19:04 Meanness in public 25:30 Exposure & normalizing effect 28:51 Identity humor 35:22 How to best engage with our kids 39:21 Kids aren't pushing back on their peers 49:17 Contemporary antisemitism vs. humor 51:38 One school assembly isn't enough 1:00:40 What parents should be doing 1:02:41 Conclusion --- Boston Jewish Now A podcast about the issues shaping Jewish life in Greater Boston. Boston Jewish Now helps Boston’s Jewish community make sense of the issues, events, and public conversations shaping Jewish life here. Each episode breaks down what is happening in the news, local government, and community in our region — and, when relevant, the national or global dynamics that affect Jewish life here at home. The podcast is designed for engaged members of Boston’s Jewish community who want to better understand the landscape around them, follow the issues shaping our community’s place in Massachusetts, and understand what deserves their attention. JCRC of Greater Boston JCRC has created a legacy of building community relations in support of Jewish and communal interests. We are at the forefront of shaping a world where our Jewish voice matters, our community thrives, and future generations find strength in our enduring legacy. Learn more at https://www.jcrcboston.org Follow Us   / bostonjcrc     / bostonjcrc     / bostonjcrc     / jcrcboston