Cyberbullying. Legislation. Safety Tools. Here’s Why Proactive Social Media Literacy Matters Now
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Instagram launches School Partnership Program to combat cyberbullying
The Gist: Instagram recently announced the steps it is taking to make social media safer for students. The social media platform says that the new School Partnership Program gives middle and high schools a direct way to report online safety concerns, like bullying or harmful anonymous pages. After being piloted in 60 schools, the program is now available nationwide and allows flagged content to be reviewed within 48 hours, the fastest turnaround time yet for content review.
What to Know: Schools that register official accounts gain access to enhanced tools to flag and report potential cyberbullying. According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, only 16% of students report online bullying to their schools. By bridging this gap, Instagram’s program gives educators a new, proactive way to address safety concerns while modeling how partnerships between schools and tech platforms can work. Educators hope it encourages more open communication between students, administrators, and platforms, turning reactive responses into proactive collaboration.
TSI’s Take: Instagram’s new initiative is a step forward in empowering schools and students to create positive and safe online spaces. But what if we could stop cyberbullying before it happens? Your school can proactively equip students to cyberback their peers to create a culture where everyone feels seen, supported, and empowered online. Here’s how to get started:
- Teach high-character decision-making: Help students reflect on how their posts and comments can impact others.
- Encourage student leadership: Create student-led groups that promote kindness in school and online.
- Huddle with your students: Make open conversations about online behavior and respect an ongoing part of your school’s culture
Schools don’t have to wait for social media platforms to foster a culture where students feel supported and confident online. Start the conversation with the #WinAtSocial Lesson, Handling online hate and hurtful messages by controlling the controllable, to help students explore what it means to lead with empathy and respect on social media.
California considers tobacco-style health labels for social media
The Gist: California lawmakers are moving closer to requiring health warning labels for social media, highlighting a growing focus on helping students make informed choices online. The proposed bill, AB 56, would require short health advisories, similar to those on tobacco products, to appear for minors on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat before they log in.
What to Know: California is not the first state to consider this type of legislation. Earlier this year, Minnesota passed a similar law that requires warning labels on social media sites. If approved in California, minors who access social media platforms in the state of California would begin to see a 10-second Surgeon General-style message when they log in each day, and a 30-second reminder after extended use. While some question the logistics, others see it as an opportunity to spark awareness about screen time balance and well-being.
TSI’s Take: Supporters of AB 56 believe it can encourage healthier tech habits while complementing education that promotes reflection and balance rather than fear or restriction. These conversations show how students’ use of social media platforms is at the forefront of many people’s minds. Schools can use this moment to proactively equip students to strike a balance with the time they spend online by:
- Reminding students to use tech to control tech: Teach students that they can use in-app settings to set daily time limits
- Helping students understand their screen time stats: It can be shocking to see that you just spent 5 hours on TikTok in a day, but it might also be a wake-up call for students who want to prioritize other things outside of social media.
- Emphasizing the value of disconnecting from screens: Remind students how important it is to step back from screens to recharge and maintain well-being.
By blending awareness with action, we can equip students to lead healthier, more intentional digital lives. Start the conversation with the #WinAtSocial Lesson, Inspiring peers and adults around us to strike a balance with tech, to help students reflect on balance and the role of technology in their everyday routines.
Report urges Meta to strengthen safety tools, and schools can lead the way
The Gist: A new report from former Meta employee Arturo Bejar and four nonprofit organizations offers recommendations to strengthen Instagram’s teen safety tools, calling for more effective protection and transparency. While the report found that some existing tools are outdated, it also points to a powerful opportunity: empowering schools, parents, and students to take an active role in creating safer online experiences.
What to Know: The report reviewed 47 of Meta’s safety features and found that only eight worked as intended. Experts hope these findings will drive positive improvements and greater collaboration between tech companies and communities. Rather than waiting for perfect tools, schools and families can continue to equip students with the skills they need to navigate social media safely and confidently, reinforcing that education and awareness are just as powerful as any in-app setting.
TSI’s Take: This is a reminder that real online safety comes from a partnership between technology and proactive education. When the adults in students’ lives help them understand how social media works, they empower them to make smart, values-based decisions. You can start by teaching students to:
- Protect their privacy online: Understand how apps use their data, what kind of information should be off limits online, and red flags to look out for when interacting with others online.
- Find positive influencers: If they choose to join social media, remind students that what they fill their feeds with will heavily influence their experiences, so it’s important to find and follow positive role models.
- Handle the pressure: Students can use social media to connect with communities, explore hobbies, and express themselves. But, there can also be a lot of pressure to look or act a certain way. Remind students that their real selves, not likes or comments, are what matter most.
Every update to social media apps is a new opportunity to teach students how to navigate their online world in positive ways. Start the conversation by huddling with your students on healthy habits for happy brains, to help students practice positive decision-making and self-awareness in their online lives.
Social media doesn’t have to be just another challenge to overcome. It can be a type of classroom where students learn and flex modern life skills. By equipping students with Social Media Literacy that equips them with the skills to navigate their online spaces in positive high high-character ways, we can set students up for success before they sign up for their first social media account. Request a demo of our Social Media Literacy Lessons to empower students to lead, connect, and thrive online with positivity and purpose.
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in equipping students, families, and educators with modern life skills to impact learning, well-being, and students’ futures. Through #WinAtSocial, our interactive, peer-to-peer learning platform, we integrate teacher PD, family resources, student voice insights, and more to empower entire school communities to make positive choices online and offline. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach essential skills while capturing student voice and actionable insights for educators. These insights help educators maintain a healthy school culture, foster high-impact teaching, and build meaningful relationships with families. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips students authentically, enabling our solution to increase classroom participation and improve student-teacher relationships. Through our one-of-a-kind lesson development process, we create lessons for a variety of core and elective classes, incorporating timely topics such as social media, A.I., screen time, misinformation, and current events to help schools stay proactive in supporting student health, happiness, and academic success.