Social Media
Happiness Project
Social media can fuel negative feelings such as anxiety, depression, or a lower body image. Children are particularly vulnerable and worth protecting.
In a world where self-comparison is always just a tap on the screen away, children should know how to navigate life in the age of social media right from the time they sign up, which could allow them to grow up more confident and happy.
According to a study of 14-24 year olds
- 9 in 10 teenage girls are unhappy with their body
- rates of anxiety and depression have increased by 70% over the past 25 years
- 7 in 10 have experienced cyber-bullying
To blame it all on social media would be outright wrong and unfair. But there is indeed a growing amount of research that shows a link between social media and an increased risk of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. The huge societal and economic impact is becoming more and more apparent too.
What this project is about.
If we can teach children healthy social media habits before or right at the time they first sign up, they may grow more resilient to these risks and walk through life more confidently and happy.
This was my idea for a university course project in 2018, and it is more relevant today than ever.
Protecting Children’s Mental Health
Children’s Mental Health
While children are not the only ones subject to risks, their mental health is particularly worth protecting.
By the time a child starts using social media – sometimes way before the age of 13 – it is likely that nobody has ever told them what to expect. In particular, nobody has told them what to do if social media does interfere with their mental health, or how to prevent that in the first place. That should change.
What is the Goal
What is the Goal
The goal of the Social Media Happiness Project is by no means to deter anybody from using social media, but rather just to nudge children towards healthy social media habits that will allow them to grow up more resilient, confident and happy.
Despite any downsides, social media are great for tons of reasons. It’s where friendships are made and where identities get formed.
In other words, it’s not about if social media are used, but how.
In Practice
How it could work in practice
Unlike many parents and teachers, toady’s college students have been growing up using (the same) social media. We have experienced its impact on our mental health first hand – in both good and bad ways – and we can pass these experiences on to kids who are new to it or about to sign up.
The goal is to go connect with schools and talk to classes of kids aged between 13 and 16.
About what? See below.
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The goal is to encourage children to develop healthy & mindful social media habits right from the beginning and give them lots of advice on how to do that.
Workshop Topics
1) Social Media vs Reality
Social media do not always accurately represent reality or sometimes show only the most positive aspects of it. For example, users typically post only their best pictures, which are sometimes even photoshopped. Some may feel more inadequate about themselves as a result.
2) Mental Health & Well Being
Comparisons based on looks and number of likes can lead to lower self-esteem and even mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. At the same time, using social media for purposes such as connecting with friends or staying healthy is also a great source of well-being and happiness.
3) Data Privacy & Responsible Behavior
Every child should know about key privacy settings in order to stay safe online. Social media are often full of hate, misinformation, and ads. Some ads for example are „hidden“ as influencer posts and teenagers are a popular targets, which they should know about.
4) Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Content created by artificial intelligence is now often impossible to distinguish from real posts. This can make it easier for false information and manipulation to spread. At the same time, AI-powered “virtual friends” are becoming more popular too. Children should learn to critically evaluate AI-generated content, question its credibility, and reflect on how they interact with AI-driven features.
Related Ideas
Going to schools to present and talk to kids is they key part to make this work I believe. But there are many ways in which this can go further.
- The workshops could contain an exercise where the kids join a simulated social network in which they are confronted with key situations (e.g. someone posted a problematic picture or is being rude online, etc)
- The program can be extended to a more personal 1:1 mentoring program for young kids, where they get assigned a mentor that follows them on social media and that they can discuss their usage with.
- Parents most likely benefit from being more informed about the topic too, so another option could be to offer trainings or info sessions for parents at those schools that we work work.
Research
Lawrence Robinson & Melinda Smith (2020): Social Media and Mental Health
Mesfin Awoke Bekalu (2020): Social media use can be positive for mental health and well-being.
Left to their own devices: children’s social media and mental health
Time Magazine (2017): Why Instagram Is the Worst Social Media for Mental Health.
Social Media Use and Adolescent Mental Health: Findings From the UK Millennium Cohort Study (2018)
NY Times The Daily Podcast (2022) – Inside the Adolescent Mental Health Crisis
About Us
Andreas Stöffelbauer
Data Scientist
London, UK
Maria Stöffelbauer
Teacher
Vienna, AT
Register your Interest
contact@somehappinessproject.com
