Blog March 15, 2024

How a college student is using social media to build connection and belonging on his campus

The Social Institute

Brett Schultz, a sophomore at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), is one student harnessing social media’s power to change his community. After recognizing that many UNH students felt lonely, homesick, or like it was difficult to make friendships — existing issues made worse by the pandemic — Schultz has designed a new social media and e-commerce platform called Connector. Connector’s vision is in the name: Schultz hopes the app will help students build relationships and communities at UNH.

Blog March 15, 2024

Responses to the Meta outage and new TikTok bill highlight the importance of empowering students to strike a balance

The Social Institute

Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, experienced an unexpected social media outage on March 5th that captivated global attention. Platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Messenger, stopped working for a little more than two hours, leaving users momentarily disconnected from their online communities. That same week, it was also announced that a bill that could lead to a nationwide TikTok ban is gaining momentum in the United States. Students’ reactions to both of these events is a reminder that we need to empower them to strike a balance.

Blog March 15, 2024

How schools in Pennsylvania and Ontario are fueling student success through new tech in the classroom 

The Social Institute

With how quickly technology evolves, it’s understandable to be uncertain about new technologies. However, these tools can have a significant positive impact on students’ learning, well-being, and future. Ontario and Pennsylvania schools are paving the way, demonstrating how to seamlessly integrate technology into education. Their approach is teacher-friendly and empowers students to build valuable skills and discover their passions.

Blog March 13, 2024

Seven insights from elementary students on how they are navigating technology and social media

The Social Institute - Social media and anxiety blog post

Elementary students are using their devices more than ever before, with the average daily screen time for 8 – 12-year-olds increasing to five hours and 33 minutes from four hours and 44 minutes in 2019. Huddle up with us as we explore 7 insights we learned from  3rd – 5th grade students about how they are navigating tech and social media, and how you can use these insights to fuel success in your school. Let’s dive in!

Blog March 8, 2024

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month: Learning from the “Hidden Disabilities Sunflower” to create a culture of empathy and understanding in school 

The Social Institute

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness month — reminding us of the importance of acknowledging and supporting individuals facing challenges within our school communities. Recently, the Quad Cities International Airport and high school senior Megan Bowlyou teamed up to embrace this month’s message. Megan, a student with dyslexia, worked with the airport to get them to adopt the “Hidden Disabilities Sunflower” to support and raise awareness for people with non-visible disabilities.