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April 26, 2024

Lessons for educators from APA’s latest report and how we can empower students to strike a balance online and offline

Be sure to check out the suggested Huddle question at the bottom of this article to discuss this important topic with your students in class, if you feel it is appropriate.

Recently, The American Psychological Association revealed its latest report on social media and adolescents, stating that “platforms built for adults are not inherently suitable for youth.” The report calls for stronger measures from tech companies and legislators, such as addressing endless scrolling and push notifications. It emphasizes that age restrictions alone are insufficient, as many students find ways around them. 

Amid global discussions on social media’s effects on student well-being, TikTok, a favorite among students, faces potential banning in the US following Senate action. New York Mayor Eric Adams has advocated for labeling social media as a “public health crisis.” And while this all seems alarming, it’s important to recognize that a scare and restrict approach towards social media for students isn’t realistic and won’t set them up for future success when they do eventually join these platforms.

With 80% of teens saying that what they see online makes them feel more connected to what is going on in their friends’ lives, we know that for students, social media is how our students connect with peers, stay up-to-date with the latest news and trends, and fuel their passions. Instead of trying to prevent social media use in students, educators can equip students with the tools to strike a balance online and foster positive social media practices that fuel students’ future success, health, and happiness.

Looking past social media age limits 

As we dive into the APA’s report, it is important to acknowledge that social media platforms are built to drive maximum engagement. By making user interaction a commodity, social media platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, often have an incentive to create environments that individuals want to return to again and again, such as push notifications and likes. 

When students scroll, they receive bursts of feel-good dopamine when they see each post. Over a prolonged period of time, this can overwhelm the brain’s reward system. When this reward system becomes overwhelmed, cortisol – the hormone that produces stress – is released. This means that when students feel stressed out, they turn to social media for relief.

According to APA Chief Science Officer Mitch Prinstein, “The platforms seem to be designed to keep kids engaged for as long as possible, to keep them on there. And kids are just not able to resist those impulses as effectively as adults.” 

For students, this can be especially impactful; their brains are still developing, and they may not have the tools to strike a balance online. 

Even though social media platforms may have age limits, with most platforms requiring users to be 13 or older, many students find ways to bypass these restrictions easily by using a different birthday or having someone else sign them up. Prinstein shares, “The fact that this is interfering with their in-person interactions, their time when they should be doing schoolwork, and – most importantly – their sleep has really important implications.” 

APA advocates for design enhancements on social media platforms to inform safety standards for these reasons: 

  • Implementing an age limit overlooks individual maturity and competence among adolescents 
  • Such measures do not effectively address the risks for individuals above the age limit and may foster a false sense of security regarding adolescents’ safety on social media despite ongoing neurological development until the age of 25
  • Restricting access to social media could disproportionately affect individuals who get psychological benefits from these platforms, such as peer support and access to evidence-based resources, especially in marginalized communities
  • Age verification protocols must ensure that the storage of official identification documents does not marginalize certain groups of youth, pose risks of data breaches, or compromise young people’s ability to maintain anonymity on social platforms.

This report emphasizes and reminds us that students’ adult role models play an important part in empowering students to strike a balance online and offline and that we can start making proactive and positive changes today. 

So, how can educators empower students to work past the design of social media and navigate it in high-character ways? Let’s dive in. 

Strategies to empower students to strike a balance online 

While the APA’s latest report underscores the need for changes in social media platforms and legislation to protect adolescents, waiting for external forces alone isn’t enough. As educators, we have the power to initiate change in our classrooms today. By fostering open discussions about healthy social media habits, equipping students with critical thinking skills to navigate popular platforms like TikTok and Instagram, and serving as positive role models, we can empower our students to strike a balance online and offline. 

If you are an educator looking to empower students to navigate social media and tech positively, here are some strategies you can use: 

  • Empower students to manage their screen time 
    • Encourage students to keep track of their screen time outside of the classroom using apps or journals. Discuss the importance of setting limits and balancing screen time with other activities such as physical exercise, hobbies, and socializing with friends and families. Check out our classroom tech policy to huddle with your students and brainstorm the standards you will have for technology in your classroom. 
  • Harness technology for good 
    • Help students take control of their online experiences while also mastering the use of app settings and personalization by setting up time limits, content preferences, and privacy settings. Learn more about one of student’s favorite apps, Snapchat, and how students can level up their privacy settings.
  • Encourage students to strike a balance:

By making social media and tech education a priority in the classroom and empowering students to strike a balance, educators can help students navigate social media while enhancing their overall well-being. If you are currently looking to level up your students’ relationship with technology, you can check out our lesson on “Sharing Strategies to Help Friends and Family Strike a Balance With Tech.“

#WinAtSocial Huddle Question

Huddle with your students
How does the design of social media platforms impact your ability to strike a balance between online engagement and offline activities? What features or design elements on Instagram could be modified or improved to promote more balanced usage among users?

The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world – in the classroom and beyond, online and offline – in healthy, high-character ways. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips, rather than scares and restricts. We incorporate timely topics about social media, tech use, and current events that are impacting student well-being and learning. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach life skills for the modern day, capture student voice, and provide school leaders with actionable insights. Through these insights, students play an essential role in school efforts to support their own health, happiness, and future success as we enable high-impact teaching, meaningful family conversations, and a healthy school culture.