The Power of Social Media and Effects on Children Teach-Out

As social media becomes increasingly present in our everyday lives, there are rising concerns about how young people interact online. In fact, about half of parents of children aged 10-12 and a third of parents of children ages 7-9 report that their child used social media, and 45% of teens say they are online nearly constantly. In this Teach-Out, children, teenagers, parents, teachers, and content creators will hear from both experts and peers about the benefits and potential risks of social media use, such as privacy concerns, skill development, and effects on physical and mental health.

The Teach-Out will encourage all learners to think critically about their social media use, adopt safe social media practices, practice empathy and self-regulation, and become informed digital citizens.

Teens may:

• Explore different elements and platforms of social media, how social media is used in daily life, and the power social media has in society.
• Discuss the positive and negative effects of social media on teens’ images of themselves and their ability to form connections with others.
• Think about the role parents and caregivers have in social media spaces and why their role is important.
• Understand how social media posts contribute to a person’s digital footprint, or record of everything they do online, in order to become a more responsible user of social media.

Parents, teachers, and other adults may:

• Explore different elements and platforms of social media, its various uses in daily life, and the power social media has in society.
• Discuss the positive and negative effects of social media on a teen’s mental health, self-image, and ability to form connections with others.
• Describe research on the positive and negative consequences of teenagers' use of mobile media and communication.
• Reflect on the importance of the parental and caregiver voices in elementary, middle and high school social media spaces and the importance of adults as role models.
• Develop an understanding of the ways in which teenagers and adults who use social media can engage responsibly, strategically navigate online communities, and practice good digital citizenship skills.