Introduction to Seminar Topic

We’ve chosen to explore the impact of social media on youth mental health because it connects directly to broader themes of Active Health, particularly mental well-being and community health. Social media plays a significant role in young people’s lives, shaping how they communicate, express themselves, and perceive the world. It influences emotional health, often affecting self-worth, anxiety, and stress. Constant exposure to photoshopped & curated images can lead to unhealthy comparisons and unrealistic standards, impacting how teens view themselves. These struggles can create barriers to living a healthy life, as issues like low self-esteem or negative body image often prevent young people from engaging in physical activity. For example, a teen dealing with anxiety or depression might avoid exercise due to fear of judgment or feelings of unworthiness. Social media’s effects also extend to how young people interact with others, often contributing to feelings of isolation. Understanding these impacts is crucial for supporting both physical and emotional well-being. By exploring this topic, we aim to highlight how, as future educators, we can promote healthy social media habits and support youth mental health, ultimately encouraging a balanced relationship with social media that fosters both online support and meaningful real-world connections.

Seminar Structure

To ensure the seminar will be informative but also engaging we could draw upon the following strategies:

Interactive Discussions:

  • Question: Begin by asking a question such as, â€śWhat is one word you would use to describe your relationship with social media” We could use the online tool we typically use and have participants anonymously share their responses.
  • Personal Stories: We could encourage peers to share any personal experiences or observations they’ve had related to social media use in the classroom or in their lives.

Real-life Case Studies:

  • Example: Present a case study where a teen’s social media use brings on feelings of anxiety and depression. For instance, a case where a student’s mental health declines after receiving negative comments on a TikTok video or becoming obsessed with comparing their body to influencers on Instagram. After presenting the case study, break into small groups to brainstorm solutions such as creating social media education programs in schools or offering coping mechanisms for students struggling with online negativity. Groups can share their ideas with everyone after the discussion.

Engagement with Digital Tools:

  • Videos Resources: Show a short clip from the Netflix video like â€śThe Social Dilemma” to highlight the psychological effects of social media. Click Here

Role-Playing:

  • Scenario Example: Role-play a situation where a student feels pressure to look a certain way due to social media influencers. Peers can practice responding in a way that promotes mental well-being and healthy social media use perhaps focusing on body positivity and resources for support.

Group Brainstorming:

Ask groups to develop an action plan for one of these ideas, and then share it with the rest of the class.

  1. Creating a classroom activity where students reflect on their social media use.
  2. Designing a school-wide campaign that focuses on social media literacy and mental health.
  3. Starting a “Social Media Detox” week to encourage offline activities and mindfulness.

These interactive elements, real-world applications, and practical takeaways will help make the seminar engaging and informative for our peers as they look forward to becoming educators.

Potential Resources for Our Seminar

One valuable resource that dives deep into the issue of social media and mental health is a video featuring Jennifer Nadeau, Senior VP for Child & Family Services and a licensed clinical social worker. In the video, Nadeau provides a thorough explanation of the mental health challenges associated with social media use among youth. She explores how constant exposure to curated online content, comparisons, and cyberbullying can contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles. This video is a great resource for parents, educators, and anyone looking to better understand how social media affects young minds and will be great as we plan our seminar.

In addition, another great resource is the ‘PBS Toolkit for Educators’ which provides videos, discussion ideas, and insights from both professionals and students alike on the dangers of social media on youth mental health. There are great videos on supporting students in distress, creating strategies to share in the classroom, and tips for starting convserattons with your students which we could integrate into our seminar to enhance peer learning.

VISIT THE WEBSITE HERE: https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/student-mental-health-matters/t/social-media/

We will also draw upon information from published papers which will provide us more academic guidance as we navigate this multifaceted topic.

One paper I looked at is “Social Media Use and Perceived Emotional Support Among U.S. Young Adults”, which examines how social media use affects young adults’ emotional support and mental health. The study found that increased social media use was associated with a lower perception of emotional support. It also highlighted that higher social media engagement was linked to feelings of isolation, which can negatively impact mental health. The findings suggest that excessive social media use may undermine real-life social connections, potentially leading to negative emotional outcomes for young adults.

Primack, B. A., Shensa, A., Sidani, J. E., et al. (2017). Social media use and perceived emotional support among U.S. young adults. Preventive Medicine, 95, 122-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.11.007

Another paper that will be a great support is ‘Social comparisons on social media: The impact of Facebook on young women’s body image concerns and mood. Body Image.’ This study explores how social comparisons on Facebook affect young women’s body image concerns and mood. It found that frequent exposure to idealized images on social media is linked to body dissatisfaction and a negative mood. The researchers suggest that social comparisons on these platforms contribute to the development of unhealthy eating behaviours and body image concerns, particularly for young women which hinder participation in an active and healthy lifestyle.

Fardouly, J., Diedrichs, P. C., Vartanian, L. R., & Halliwell, E. (2015). Social comparisons on social media: The impact of Facebook on young women’s body image concerns and mood. Body Image, 13, 38-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.12.002

Ultimately, following under the goal of the health seminar, we hope to provide our peers with concrete tools and knowledge to foster a balanced approach to social media, supporting both the mental well-being of youth and their overall health. Through collaborative brainstorming and practical applications, we aim to inspire future educators to take meaningful steps toward building healthier, more supportive environments for young people both online and offline and truly embracing strategies for active health.