Social Media & Student Mental Health

"Social Media & Mental Health" invites participants to reflect on their perceptions and experiences of our students' relationship with social media and its impact on their well-being. They will begin by examining its role in our lives before watching two films—an animation and a drama—that explore the influence of social media on our daily experiences. Through guided reflection and discussion, participants will analyze the ways the digital world affects mental health. The session concludes with an opportunity to define an ideal student relationship with social media and to consider campus actions for a healthier, more intentional digital experience for our students.

Note: This class includes a background resource for the Instructor about Internet Addiction that is not explicitly covered in the class. The resource is intended to help the Instructor look for and name healthy versus unhealthy uses of social media that come up in the discussion, as opposed to pathologizing all use of social media.