‘Teach kids internet bollocks, not my old rubbish,’ says Shakespeare: the Stephen Collins cartoon

Shakespeare's Take on the Digital Age Sparks Debate

A recent animated video by Stephen Collins featuring William Shakespeare has sparked a heated discussion about how to educate children about the internet. The cartoon, which has garnered over 10 million views on social media, presents an unexpected take on this pressing issue.

According to the animation, Shakespeare advises parents to "teach kids internet bollocks, not my old rubbish." For those unfamiliar with the term, "bollocks" is a colloquial British expression for nonsense or rubbish. In essence, Shakespeare suggests that instead of passing on outdated information and outdated values to children, we should focus on teaching them how to navigate the digital world safely and effectively.

This advice resonates with many experts who argue that traditional approaches to education are no longer sufficient in today's fast-paced online landscape. With the vast majority of teenagers already active on social media, it's essential that parents and educators equip young people with the skills to critically evaluate online content and maintain their digital literacy.

However, some critics have taken umbrage with Shakespeare's suggestion, arguing that the Bard's message could be misinterpreted as dismissive of traditional knowledge. Others have pointed out that the video's tone may come across as too casual or irreverent for younger viewers.

Despite these criticisms, the cartoon has sparked a valuable conversation about how we should approach internet safety and digital education in schools. As one parent tweeted, "Who better to advise us on this than the great Shakespeare himself?" The debate surrounding Collins' video serves as a reminder that teaching children about the internet is a pressing issue that requires thoughtful consideration from educators, parents, and experts alike.

OMG, I'm loving this take ! Shakespeare's got it right, fam . Our kids are getting their info online 24/7 and they need to know how to sift through the noise . Traditional education just isn't cutting it anymore . Parents and educators gotta step up their game and teach them how to navigate the digital world like pros . Shakespeare's message is all about keeping it real, not passing on outdated info . It's time for a new approach, and I'm here for it .

I think it's kinda cool how this whole thing got going, you know? It makes me wonder if we're getting too caught up in trying to teach kids about the "right" stuff versus just letting them figure things out for themselves . I mean, Shakespeare's saying that old info is useless, but what does that even say about our values as a society? Are we still clinging to something from the past? And what's wrong with learning from our mistakes, huh? The cartoon might be casual, but it's making us think about how we're teaching kids online safety... and that's gotta be a good thing .

omg i love how shakespeare would tell it like it is lol... he's right tho we need to teach kids how to navigate online stuff safely & effectively, traditional methods just aren't gonna cut it anymore what if we combined that with some old-school learning skills tho? like history, science, and all that? wouldn't be so bad to learn about the past while also learning about coding and digital media

I'm not sure I fully agree with Shakespeares take . I mean, is 'internet bollocks' really the best way to describe all outdated info? Sounds like he's just giving an excuse for kids to avoid learning actual history . Can't we teach them how to critically think online without dismissing all traditional knowledge?

I just saw that animated vid of Shakespeare talking about the digital age and I gotta say, it's so true! My kid's in high school now and they're already scrolling through TikTok like a pro . I remember when I was their age, we didn't have all these options to access information, but we made do just fine with what we had. The thing is, the internet is a wild west out there, and you need to know how to navigate it safely if you want to avoid getting lost in cyberspace . I think Shakespeare's got a point, parents should be more open to new ideas and not just stick to what they learned back in school. It's all about finding that balance between old-school values and modern skills .

I gotta say , I'm loving this conversation around digital literacy in schools! It's like, we're already living in a world where kids are glued to their screens, so why not teach 'em how to navigate it safely? I mean, Shakespeare's right - our old values and info aren't gonna cut it anymore. We need to keep up with the times! And you know what? I think his message is clear: teach them the skills they need to succeed online, not just regurgitate outdated stuff. Now, let's get educators and parents on the same page and make sure our young'uns are equipped for the digital world

lol what's wrong with using the Bard himself to get our point across? like come on, he's been around for centuries, I'm sure his words still hold up and btw, "internet bollocks" is just a funny way of saying "nonsense" but seriously, can't we just relax and let people figure out how to navigate the internet safely? it's not that hard, folks!

lolol shakespeare would prob be all over snapchat rn he's always been about speaking truth to power & now it's about keeping kids safe online - couldn't agree more! the thing is, we gotta make sure our kids are equipped to navigate this wild digital world without getting lost in the noise what's crazy is how fast tech is advancing & we're only just starting to catch up anyway, I think shakespeare's advice is spot on - teach 'em the good stuff, not outdated info

I gotta say, I'm kinda torn about this one . On one hand, it's genius that Shakespeare's taking on the digital age like that - his words are still so relatable today. But at the same time, some of these parents might just take "bollocks" as a literal instruction to skip the history books altogether . I mean, we need a balance between old and new knowledge, right? It's not just about teaching kids how to Google stuff (although that is super important too ). We also gotta make sure they're getting the basics of literacy, critical thinking, and creativity - all the things Shakespeare was famous for, but now kinda more relevant than ever . Let's hope this conversation stays constructive and not gets derailed by anyone taking it too literally .

I mean, can you imagine if we went back in time and showed this animation to like, William Shakespeare himself? I think he'd be all about it! He was all about exploring new ideas and pushing boundaries. This take on internet safety is kinda like that. It's not about just regurgitating old info, but about being proactive and teaching people how to navigate the digital world. Of course, there are some valid concerns about tone and stuff, but overall I think it's a cool way to spark a conversation about this really important issue. We should definitely be having more discussions like this!

ugh, of course some people are gonna take this outta context... like who needs education when you got youtube and facebook right? i mean, whats wrong with passing on outdated info to kids? its not like they're gonna end up in a cult or something lol what's next, teach them how to breathe properly too?

I'm totally with Shakespeare on this one lol . I mean, think about it, his plays are still widely studied in schools today, but who's gonna teach kids how to spot a fake news article or a meme that's just gonna make 'em laugh? We need to keep up with the times and make sure our kiddos are equipped for this wild digital ride. I'm not saying traditional knowledge is irrelevant, but let's be real, you can't live in a cave anymore . Parents and educators need to get on board and start teaching those skills ASAP!

I gotta say, I think it's refreshing that someone like Shakespeare (who was all about challenging societal norms) is giving us a wake-up call about how to teach kids about the internet . I mean, traditional education methods just aren't cutting it in this day and age - we need to be teaching these kids how to critically think online, not just regurgitate outdated info . And yeah, maybe Shakespeare's tone is a bit unconventional, but come on, the dude was known for pushing boundaries . It's about time we stop being so traditional and start having some real conversations with our kids about what it means to be digitally literate in today's world

I mean, can you blame him though? Kids these days are already glued to their screens like they're addicted to something . It's not like we're teaching them how to think critically or anything... we just want them to know what's good and what's bad on YouTube . But honestly, if Shakespeare is saying it, I'm all for a more relaxed approach to education. Maybe he's right, maybe we need to chill out a bit and let the kids figure some things out for themselves . And can you imagine trying to explain what an algorithm is to someone who thinks TikTok is the sum total of internet knowledge? I mean, good luck with that!