Media Wellbeing

Social media apps connect us to the rest of the world, but they also open the door to many harmful situations. In this activity, students will pick two friends and discuss online situations that make them feel uncomfortable. After discussion, the group will make an agreement to avoid negative situations online.

Click on this video to watch Youth Speak Out facilitator William Desravines Jr. talk about the activity. You can find step-by-step instructions as well as discussion questions below.

Activity

1. Brainstorm ways to create media balance and avoid negative online situations and discuss with friends. 
2. Stand in a circle and state “I will remove myself from any online negativity when…” and state the situation. 
3. After the statement, each person puts their hand in the middle of the circle. Once everyone has gone, the friends all say “Agreed!”

Talk About It

• How does this activity help build trust between students and their friends?
• How does the agreement help students build media balance?