1. Social Media and Mental Health

2. What is ‘Social Media’?
Social media allows us to speak and communicate with others electronically This can include: Sharing information Sharing ideas Personal messages And other content!

3. Stand up (or hands up) if you recognise or have ever used one of these social media sites.
Keep standing/hands up if you use these on a weekly/daily/more than once a day basis.
(Ask children to guess the age for a Facebook profile – 13 years old is legal age requirement)

4. Facts about Social Media
A quarter of 8-11 year olds have a profile on a social media or messaging site
80% of 5-15 year olds often use YouTube to watch short clips or programmes
Over half of 9 to 16 year-olds say that they use a smart phone on a daily basis
(Ofcom, 2017; Internet Matters, 2016; Heads Together, 2018)
44% of 6 year olds are going online in their bedrooms

5. Social Media and Mental Health
Firstly…
What is mental health?
Open this up to pupils to see if they can give definitions of what mental health means. Support pupils by asking what it means to be healthy – then what might it mean to be mentally healthy.

6. Good mental health helps us to…
Learn and explore the world
Recognise, show and cope with good and bad feelings
Build friendships and relationships with others
Cope with change
Develop and thrive
(Adapted from Mentally Healthy Schools website)

7. Mental health can change
Like physical health, mental health is something we all have.
It can change from day-to-day, and it can change over time.
Mental health affects how we think, feel and act.
(Adapted from Mentally Healthy Schools website)

8. How might social media make us feel?
It makes me feel good sending nice messages to my friends
Being able to speak to my grandparents who live far away makes me feel happy
I like being able to speak to my friends after school!
It’s so interesting to see what’s happening in our local area
It’s great being able to talk about homework with people in my class – I love being able to share ideas with others!
I enjoy showing my friends the games I’m playing and how well I’m doing

9. How might social media make us feel?
I wish I’d have kept that picture private instead of sharing it – now everyone has seen it
Their status has more likes than mine – I can’t be very popular
Maybe I shouldn’t have shared so many details about where I live…I feel really worried now
I keep getting nasty messages – I feel so upset
Someone that I don’t know keeps messaging me – I feel really uncomfortable but I’m not sure what to do
I feel like I speak to my friends more on social media than in person – it makes me feel lonely
My friends are so much better on these games than me – I’m rubbish
They look so much nicer in their photo than I do

10. What can I do if social media is making me feel worried or sad?
(Adapted from the Children’s commissioner website -
Connect – make sure you still connect with others offline too
Be active – doing exercise and being active is linked with feeling happy – give yourself some time to do active fun things
Get creative – online is great for this, but could you find some creative things to do offline? E.g. drawing, painting, baking, dancing
Give to others – helping others is important for our happiness. E.g. posting positive messages online, or taking the time to listen to friends/family. Ask if they need help.
Be mindful – pay attention to how something makes you feel. Learn to notice when something makes you feel worried or uncomfortable.

11. What can I do if social media is making me feel worried or sad?
Most importantly... Stay safe and Talk to someone you trust!
Stay Safe – hyperlinked to the BBC Own It page – play ‘top tips’ video
Talk to someone you trust –a teacher, parent. Emphasise that it is likely that others may feel the same way

12. Where else can I go for help?
Young Minds -
The Children’s Society -
BBC Own It -