Trending this week: Students advocate for online safety, use A.I. to combat doomscrolling, and compete in a book tournament – March Madness style
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Some students say that social media bans are neither practical nor effective in protecting young people online
The Gist: The Youth Select Committee, a parliamentary group of teenagers in the United Kingdom supported by the House of Commons, recently emphasized that the government needs to do more to protect young people from violent and harmful content online. However, they also argue that social media bans, like the one recently passed in Australia that prevents students under 16 from creating accounts, are “neither practical nor effective” in achieving online safety because many young people can find their way around age verification methods.
What to Know: This year, the Online Safety Act went into effect in the United Kingdom and requires social media platforms and search engines to do more to protect children in the UK from harmful online content. In response, the student-led Youth Select Committee filed a report that claims it’s not enough to protect young people. While the report acknowledges some of the benefits of the Online Safety Act, students also called for alternative solutions: improved media literacy education in schools, including how algorithms work in their promotion of content, in addition to better training and support for educators and parents so that they can effectively support students.
The Youth Selection Committee’s response to the Online Safety Act highlights gaps in online protection that directly impact classroom learning and well-being. Students are increasingly exposed to misinformation, harmful content, and algorithm-driven echochambers. Without relevant and engaging media literacy education, students may struggle to develop the skills necessary to critically examine online information. Additionally, exposure to harmful content online can negatively impact student mental health, which can be seen in the classroom through increased stress or changes in social behavior.
TSI’s Take: The Social Institute is the proud partner of schools around the world. We acknowledge and embrace the power of student voices through our Student Ambassador Program, a dynamic group of young leaders who create inspiring content and share innovative ideas. Together, Student Ambassadors encourage peers (and adults!) to make healthy decisions, both online and offline.
Here are some strategies to help students use their mics for good, just like these teens on the Youth Select Committee:
- Become a Role Model: Lead by example! Students can show their peers how to navigate social media responsibly, call out harmful content, and promote a safer digital space when they have responsible role models to look up to
- Encourage Positive Content: Whether through blogging, podcasting, videos, or social media, students can share uplifting stories, raise awareness about issues, and inspire others with their ideas
- Inspire School-wide Initiatives: Encourage your students to work with teachers and administrators to implement workshops or special assemblies on digital responsibility and healthy online behavior
The Social Institute Student Ambassador Program empowers student leaders to make a positive impact on students across the world. If you’d like to learn more about this program or believe your students would like to join this dynamic group of young leaders, talk to our team today!
9th graders create an A.I.-powered app designed to combat “doomscrolling”
The Gist: “Doomscrolling” is the act of mindlessly scrolling on social media and losing track of time. It’s a habit many of us have developed, but 9th graders at Chaminade High School were inspired to create an innovative solution: “Buddy Bot,” an A.I.-powered app designed to help students break the cycle of endless scrolling to improve their mental health.
What to Know: Andrew Runje Dargento, one of the students involved in the project, shared that “We all experienced firsthand these issues where we’re on our phone hours upon hours, where we should be doing more productive things.” Together with his peers, they worked to create a solution. The “Buddy Bot” app features an A.I. chatbot that offers encouraging reminders and suggestions to inspire users to take a break from their screens.
The chatbot was trained to recognize around 400 emotionally charged keywords like “anxious” or “sad” and was given built-in responses to support the user. Ty Miranda, another team member, said, “About 60% of students reported that social media has negatively affected their sleep schedule and mental health.” Along with developing the “buddy bot” and writing a paper on social media’s effects on youth, the students plan to design another app. Their “buddy bot” won them $1,800 of prize money in a “Medical Marvels” competition, and they’ve agreed to put the funds towards production of their new project.
TSI’s Take: When we empower and equip them with the skills they need to use social media and A.I. responsibly, students have the opportunity to grow and create real change in the world. Here are some strategies to guide students to use technology for good:
- Encourage students to use tech to support local and global causes
- Demonstrate how to use A.I. tools for learning rather than as shortcuts on assignments
- Teach students how to balance screen time with other activities like reading or crafting
Want to learn more about how to help students use tech for good? Check out this #WinAtSocial Lesson: Promoting student wellness and self-care at our school.
How one elementary school is inspiring a love of reading with a March Madness book tournament
The Gist: Washington Elementary School is fostering a new generation of readers and college basketball fans through an exciting book contest. As the March Madness basketball tournament progressed, the students voted on their favorite books in head-to-head matchups, with posters of the brackets hanging up in the gym and library. They started with 16 books, and worked their way down until only 2 were left. Leveraging student interests, like sports, is a great way to foster community and encourage a love of learning in a fun and creative way.
What to Know: Andria McCaul, the teacher who co-founded the book tournament, explains the strategy behind picking which books would be included. She says, “We tried to choose books that have good themes, maybe a message to learn, or find some books that have a deep meaning about friendship or kindness.”
To further inspire excitement, community, and learning, and to tie the tournament back to the March Madness theme, the elementary school had two members of Utah Tech’s men’s basketball team read one of the final books, “Endlessly Ever After,” during a school assembly. Afterwards, two members of the Trailblazers women’s basketball team read from the remaining final book, “Finding Winnie.” The students then had a chance to vote for their favorite. Third grader Alaia Hughes said she would be voting for “Finding Winnie” to win the championship because “It is a very cute story, and it teaches us about kindness. And it’s a real story. It tells us the real story of Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin. I like March Madness not because we get to read the books, but because we can learn from the books.”
TSI’s Take: Just like how the basketball players who visited Washington Elementary school are positively influencing students by supporting their love for reading, we can empower and equip students to surround themselves with positive and uplifting role models online and offline.
Here are some strategies to help students:
- Encourage Self-Reflection – Have students identify their values and interests so they can follow influencers who align with their goals, whether in education, mental health, activism, or creativity
- Introduce Inspiring Figures – Share examples of positive role models in various fields, such as scientists, artists, activists, and educators, who use their platforms for good
- Promote Peer Influence – Remind students that their peers can also be positive influencers. Encourage them to uplift one another and use their own voices for good
Want to learn more about how to help students use their mics for good? Check out this #WinAtSocial Lesson: Recognizing how much we’re influenced by online influencers.
Helping Students Use Their Mics for Good, Handle the Pressure of Constantly Changing Technology, and Find Empowering Influencers
As educators, we have the privilege of empowering and equipping students with the tools they need to make healthy decisions online and offline. Together, we can encourage them to use their mics for good to advocate for causes they care about, handle the pressure of new technology such as A.I., and find influencers who support them (and their love for reading!). Want to help students sharpen their digital instincts and take control of their online world? Stay ahead of the latest trends impacting students by subscribing to The Huddle — our expert breakdown of social media, tech, and current events shaping students — online and offline.
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.