Social media has become an integral part of our lives, especially for teens. While it offers many benefits, it can also negatively impact mental health if it’s not managed well. This lesson aims to empower students with the knowledge and skills to create a more positive and mentally healthy social media environment for themselves.

Year level

7-12

Duration

60 minutes

Type

In class activity

SEL Competencies

Self-awareness

Self-management

Social awareness

Learning intention

Students will learn to critically evaluate their social media use and to develop strategies for creating a mentally healthy social media feed. 

Key outcomes

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  • identify the positive and negative impacts of social media on mental health

  • analyse their current social media habits and content consumption

  • apply practical strategies to improve their social media feed for better mental health

  • create a personal action plan for maintaining a mentally healthy social media presence.

Materials needed

  • Whiteboard and markers

  • Student devices or workbooks

Mapped to

  • This resource is not mapped to a curriculum.

Activity 1

Discussion: Social media and mental health

15 minutes

  1. Ask students to share their thoughts on how social media affects their mood and mental health. Write key points on the whiteboard.

  2. Present a brief overview of both positive and negative impacts of social media on mental health. For example: 

    • Positive: social connection, access to information, self-expression.

    • Negative: comparison, cyberbullying, sleep disruption.

  3. Explain the concept of a ‘mentally healthy social media feed’ and discuss why it's important.

Activity 2

Social media audit

20 minutes

  1. Ask students to list the social media platforms they use/have used or (if they don’t use social media) are aware of.

  2. Students complete an audit by asking themselves:

    1. How does this platform make me feel (positive, neutral, negative)?

  3. Under each platform, students differentiate types of content that consistently make them feel good or bad. For example: 

    • memes

    • fashion websites

    • football team accounts

  4. In pairs, students discuss their findings for five minutes. Encourage them to share their insights and any patterns they notice.

  5. As a class, spend five minutes discussing common themes.

Activity 3

Strategies for a healthy social media feed

20 minutes

  1. Present the following strategies for curating a mentally healthy social media feed:

    • Unfollow or mute accounts that consistently make you feel negative.

    • Follow accounts that inspire, educate or uplift you.

    • Set time limits for social media use.

    • Turn off notifications during certain hours.

    • Regularly ‘declutter’ your feed by reviewing who you follow.

    • Be mindful of your own posting habits.

  2. In small groups, have students brainstorm additional strategies for five minutes.

  3. Each group shares their best strategy with the class. Compile a master list of these on the whiteboard.

  4. Individually, students create a personal action plan, choosing 3–5 strategies they will implement to improve their social media feed.

Activity 4

Reflection and commitment

5 minutes

  1. Ask students to reflect on what they've learnt and to share one commitment they're making to improve their social media feed.

  2. Encourage students to check in with themselves after a week of implementing their chosen strategies and to adjust them as needed.

Print

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              Aboriginal flagTorres Strait islander flagRainbow flagAustralian flag

              We acknowledge the traditional owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past and present. We recognise connection to Country as integral to health and wellbeing.

              We acknowledge people with lived experience of mental ill-health and recovery and the experience of people who have been carers, families, or supporters.

              ReachOut values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.

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