New study reveals association between social media use and risky behavior among students. What does this mean for educators?
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.
A recent study by Amrit Kaur Purba, a Ph.D. postdoctoral researcher, and her team found an association between frequent social media use and risky behavior among adolescents, such as alcohol use, unhealthy dietary restrictions, and drug use.
While 90% of teens have social media, and new research is emphasizing its influence on student behavior, it’s necessary to recognize the significant impact that social media holds. As educators, understanding social media’s impact on students’ behavior allows us to empower students to handle the pressure of social media’s influence and ultimately equip them to avoid risky behaviors. Let’s dive in.
How social media is shaping student behavior
The study, which analyzed data from 1.4 million adolescents globally, uncovered that daily use of platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and TikTok was associated with an increased likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors, such as alcohol use, drug use, and anti-social behavior. The research team concluded that there is a correlation between frequent social media use and risky behavior, finding that spending at least two hours a day on social media doubled the odds of alcohol consumption. However, Dr. Purba stated, “More research is needed to establish causality, as well as determine which aspects of social media are most harmful.”
For students on social media, the influence to engage in risky behaviors could come from various places. From images of their classmates at a party to videos of influencers engaging in behaviors like underage and binge drinking, students may feel pressured to behave in a way that others around them are. This could lead to an increase in risky behavior. For students, peer pressure is nothing new and has existed long before social media. Whether from social media or in-person interactions, 90% of students have experienced peer pressure, highlighting just how strong of an impact students’ peers have.
So, how can we help students handle the pressure of what they see on social media and make positive decisions online and offline? The key is to empower students to play to their core and say no to behaviors that make them uncomfortable. This means encouraging students to only act in ways that reflect their core values, no matter the pressure from others.
How to help students handle the pressure of social media
In a world where social media can amplify the pressure for students to engage in risky behavior, educators can leverage strategies for handling the pressure to instill resilience and coping mechanisms in students. The pressure to conform to online trends and expectations can be overwhelming. Still, by sharing tips on handling this pressure, educators empower students to make choices that best support their well-being.
Creating a supportive environment where students feel encouraged to discuss their experiences on social media can contribute to building a generation of intelligent and responsible students. Here is how you can help students handle the pressure of social media:
- Huddle with students on identifying triggers: Handling social media pressure starts with identifying what aspects of being online cause students to feel stress or pressure to behave a certain way. It could be FOMO from seeing people hang out together or images that promote unrealistic body standards. Once students can identify stress triggers, they can avoid them to protect their well-being.
- Remind students to reach out to a friend or trusted adult when feeling pressured: For students, venting, in moderation, about peer pressure or concerns they have with what they see on social media can be therapeutic. It also allows others to resonate with the student’s feelings and provide actionable tips to help them avoid participating in risky behaviors.
- Encourage students to share their mistakes: While students don’t have to broadcast their missteps to the world, sharing their mistakes with someone they trust may help them avoid repeating the same error.
As educators, it is up to us to recognize the multi-faceted impact of social media on students and equip them with the tools to navigate these challenges. By huddling with students on ways they can handle social media pressure, educators can guide students toward responsible and mindful use of social media. For more strategies on how you can help students make the best choices while using social media, check out our webinar on helping students build the habits and skills they need to handle the pressure of social media.
#WinAtSocial Huddle Question
Huddle with your students
As students, it’s quite common to receive pressure from our peers to do something we might not ordinarily do. Whether it comes from social media or in-person interactions, we must be able to act in a way that reflects our core values, despite the pressure from others. What is one instance where you felt you were being pressured by your peers on social media to behave in a way you know you didn’t want to? How did you handle it?
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.