As the year winds down, three of students’ favorite platforms — Spotify, TikTok, and Pinterest — are giving us a look back at what shaped 2024. These year-end recaps highlight the trends, moments, and creators that defined the year, offering key insights into the online habits and cultural impact of students today.
It is no secret that tech challenges like cyberbullying, digital distractions, and group chat drama can negatively impact the well-being of students. This can make it difficult for students to learn and succeed academically. Recognizing the impact that tech has on student well-being and school culture, McDonogh School, a K-12 independent school in Maryland, is on a mission to empower students to use tech intentionally and positively. See how McDonogh School partnered with The Social Institute to teach intentional tech use in the school and strengthen school culture.
Here at The Social Institute, we support students of all learning styles and backgrounds to build important modern life skills and coping techniques through our gamified peer-to-peer platform #WinAtSocial. #WinAtSocial isn’t like traditional lecture-based lessons that might be restrictive to the learning process of students with learning differences—it’s interactive! Students can collaborate with their peers and teachers to explore real-life situations to build positive, high-character skills.
The conversation around cell phone bans brings mixed perspectives from students, families, and educators. While 78% of Canadian parents support some form of regulation, some education experts argue that there isn’t enough research to back these restrictions. And regulations vary: Quebec has a complete ban in schools, while Newfoundland and Labrador limit phone use for K-6 students only.
School leaders today face a range of pressing challenges in education. From combating the spread of misinformation to addressing the growing impact of digital distractions and artificial intelligence, they are tasked with equipping students to navigate social media and technology responsibly. And the stakes are high — students need the skills to make thoughtful, high-character choices in an increasingly tech-fueled world.