The Impact of Social Media on Young Minds
Online or Offline?
As part of the Well-Being curriculum, the Secondary Social and Emotional Counselling team held an invaluable session giving students an understanding of how technology and social media impact their well-being. The session began by examining global statistics on internet and social media usage and comparing these figures with their own personal data. They then explored the addictiveness of social media and its potential effects on mental health.
In addition to discussing the challenges, the presentation also highlighted the benefits of social media and technology, such as fostering connections, aiding learning and allowing interests to develop into skills. Students were encouraged to set personal boundaries and develop realistic expectations for their screen time, promoting a more mindful approach to technology use. The Counselling team emphasised how online life can reflect offline life, underscoring the importance of setting online boundaries. This included not feeling compelled to respond to messages immediately, avoiding the expectation of instant responses from others and recognising notifications that might be intrusive to their offline life.
The session offered valuable insights and practical strategies that we the students will explore to develop a balanced relationship with technology.
