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Social media has a lot of benefits: it’s a place where we can keep up with family and friends, make plans and hear about current events. However, it can also become a source of stress and anxiety. If you notice your student spending more time online or feeling additional stress, here are some ways you can work together to navigate social media in a more positive way.

Start the conversation

Encourage your student to reflect on their current social media use. Talk about what they like, don’t like and what they might like to see change. Do the channels they use or the accounts they follow bring them joy and laughter or cause more stress and worry? Do they add value to their daily life or make them feel like they need to be someone they’re not? Are they making meaningful connections with friends or family?��

Once they’ve reflected, work together to brainstorm creative ideas or guidelines around how to maintain a healthy relationship with their social media accounts. This may mean limiting phone use at meals or leaving their phone at home when they go outside. Let your student take the lead in determining what is best for them, and ask how you can help support their needs.��

Hit Unfollow

If your student realizes that any of the channels or accounts they’re following are having a negative impact, it may be time to unfollow. If they’re concerned about unfollowing an account altogether, encourage them to hide the account from their feed instead. Hiding this type of content from their view can help them feel a sense of relief and will free up space for accounts that make them feel positive.����

Take a mental health break

As things rapidly change and new updates become available throughout the day, it can be difficult to disconnect. However, if your student is experiencing additional stress or anxiety, it can be helpful to take a break from their social accounts. If they need help unplugging, here are some tips you can share with them:

• Encourage them to move social apps off of their home screen. Having an extra step can reduce the urge to open the app as soon as they get on their phone.

• If a specific app is causing them stress, encourage them to consider deleting it.

• Use “do not disturb” mode. If your student hears a tone or vibration from every notification, they’re more likely to pick up their phone. Silencing notifications can help your student stay focused during online classes and improve their sleep schedule, since they won’t be woken up throughout the night.

• Encourage your student to use social media as a way to plan face-to-face conversations. Whether it’s a group chat or video call, we tend to have more meaningful connections through face-to-face interactions.

Suggest alternative activities

Here are some other activities your student can do to take a break from their phone:

• Go for a walk outside

• Call or video chat with a friend they haven’t spoken to in a while

• Catch up with relatives or other loved ones on the phone

• Spring clean - including their physical spaces, computer and online presence

• Enjoy a puzzle, adult coloring book or ebook

Need more ideas? We’ve got a full list of virtual activities students can do online to keep them entertained.��

Find support

If your student is struggling or having a difficult time coping with social media issues, Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) is here to help. They offer free virtual walk-in appointments. Your student can call 303-492-2277 to set up an appointment to speak with a counselor.