Social Media Burnout: Keeping Our Youth Safe From A World At Their Fingertips

Despite controversy and ambivalence about media technology, one in seven Americans report using some form of social media. Social media is imbedded in the fabric of our culture as a way of marketing, advertising, career-building, and of course, socializing. Social media is the arena in which young people engage with their peers and interact with the world. Malls have been replaced with FaceBook, movies replaced with YouTube, and house parties replaced by TikTok. 90% of teens ages 13-17 have used social media. 75% report having at least one active social media profile. On average, teens are online almost 9 hours a day, not including time for homework. With so much information and opportunity at our finger tips, it is important that young people know the risks associated with such access.

This workshop is designed to help people become more aware of the risks of social media and how to safely navigate platforms for themselves and others. This workshop includes tips about common social media “traps,” information on how to communicate with youth about social media, and knowledge about symptoms of problematic social media use.

Workshop Objectives:

· Understand the benefits of social media

· Know the risks of social media

· Identify if your teen is at risk

· Learn how to manage cyberbullying

· Know how to communicate with your teen about social media and its risks

· Learn how to correct problematic online behavior