Blog

The connection between mental well-being and social media has been a hot topic over the last few years. From lawsuits about social media hurting students’ mental health to surveys revealing that social media makes a lot of students feel stressed or anxious, many point fingers at social media platforms as the source of students’ declining mental well-being. However, a new study from a research team out of the University of Amsterdam has introduced a new perspective. What does this mean for students? Let’s dive in. 

Read more

 We surveyed 22,952 students at U.S. public and independent schools from Aug. 1  –  Dec. 1, 2022, to find out how they are using social media and tech and what they want educators to know about how it impacts their well-being. The main takeaway? Social media is being social. Let’s dive into what students revealed about their online social worlds.

Read more

Public universities across the U.S. are taking action against TikTok – banning the popular platform on campus wifi networks and school-owned devices. Schools such as the University of Texas and Texas A&M are two of the latest to implement the “TikTok ban” in response to Texas Governor Greg Abbott banning the app on all government devices this past December. This ban comes from privacy concerns and fear of data being obtained. Despite these bans, TikTok remains the #1 app in the charts – making it the most downloaded mobile app worldwide. So what does this ban mean for students? 

Read more

Meta, the company that owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, among other products and services, recently made changes to their ad experiences in order to keep their apps age-appropriate for their younger users. In addition to the current advertising standards, such as the restriction of prohibited topics to users under 18 years old, Meta is adding new policies for advertisers that change the way they can reach students. Among these updates, students will be given more ways to manage Facebook and Instagram ads and have access to a new privacy page that provides information and resources about their privacy across apps. Let’s dive into what these updates mean for students.

Read more

A new viral TikTok trend called #LuckyGirlSyndrome is empowering students on the internet to envision positive outcomes to manifest them in real life. How does this trend work? Easy. According to TikTok, you simply tell yourself “I am a lucky girl!” or “I am the luckiest person.” Whether you’re starting a new semester, moving to a new city, or going about a regular day, the trend is to speak your desires into existence and wholeheartedly believe that they will happen. The key? Handling the pressure by keeping a positive mindset, while staying grateful for the things you already have. 

Read more