Digital Wellbeing for Youth
Overview
As the world continues to become increasingly more digital, it can be hard to navigate the opportunities and challenges of being online. This is especially true for children and teens who use social media and online entertainment more than any other previous generation. This collection was designed to help explore the impact of social media on youth mental health, how to talk to young people about staying safe online, and support for engaging in honest, open dialogues about the risks and benefits of social media.
Trainings
Digital Pathways to Prevention: Integrating Mobile Tools to Support Youth and Family
This Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (STAR) Seminar will explore the design and evaluation of mobile-based applications aimed at increasing accessibility to behavioral health prevention services for youth between the ages of 12 and 25 and their families. Using our current Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)-funded initiatives as case examples, this training will highlight mobile-based applications focused on enhancing caregiver awareness, reducing vaping, and promoting wellness. The session will highlight strategies for translating behavioral and psychological theory into intervention components that are engaging, ...
Introduction to Digital Citizenship for K-5 Educators
Join Common Sense Education and the UCLA Prevention Center of Excellence for this 30-minute interactive workshop as we explore activities to support educators who are helping K-5 students navigate the challenges and opportunities of the digital world. We'll highlight lessons that focus on self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and digital wellbeing. You'll leave with resources to help you lead meaningful conversations with students and parents about working through the challenges that come with living in an ever-connected world.
Introduction to Digital Citizenship for Middle and High School Educators
Join Common Sense Education and the UCLA Prevention Center of Excellence for this 30-minute interactive workshop as we explore activities to support educators who are helping middle and high school students navigate the challenges and opportunities of the digital world. We'll highlight lessons that focus on self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and digital wellbeing. You'll leave with resources to help you lead meaningful conversations with students and parents about working through the challenges that come with living in an ever-connected world.
Introduction to Digital Citizenship for School Administrators
Join Common Sense Education and the UCLA Prevention Center of Excellence for this 30-minute interactive workshop as we explore activities to support administrators who are navigating the challenges and opportunities of the digital world. We'll discuss how to implement school programming focused on self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and digital wellbeing. You'll leave with resources to help you lead meaningful conversations with students, parents, and educators about working through the challenges that come with living in an ever-connected world.
Printable Tools
A Social Media Risk Assessment for Youth and How to Use It
Concerned about how frequently young people are online or what they are doing while on social media? Use this Risk Assessment to help with open, honest dialogue about social media use and the potential risks.
Helpful or Harmful? Social Media and Youth Mental Health
As children and teens start to use social media more frequently, it is sometimes hard to tell whether it is helping or harming their mental health. This printable tool helps break down the pros and cons of social media use, as well as providing tips for caregivers to help keep their young people safe online.
Parents' Views on Diverse Representations in Children's Media
This printable tool explores the perceptions caregivers have on representation in the media and the entertainment with with young people are engaging.
The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Teens and Tweens, 2021
Media use rapidly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, more than it had in the years leading up to 2020. The Common Sense Census looks at how tweens and teens used media during this time and what types of media they engaged in.
Websites
Common Sense Media: Family Engagement Toolkit
Looking to learn strategies to support children and adolescents with their digital engagement? Check out this toolkit on increasing parent engagement and the different tools to cultivate digital wellbeing and responsibility.
Common Sense Media: Parent's Ultimate Guides
Feeling overwhelmed by the growing digital apps and platforms children and adolescents are using? Check out these guides that examine the most popular apps, including what they are, how to use them, and how to keep children safe while using them.
Teen Voices: Friendships and Social Media
This website links to an episode of Teen Voices. Listen as teens discuss how they use social media to stay connected with their friends, the feelings they experience using it, and how it affects their friendships.
Teen Voices: Sexting, Relationships, and Risks
This website links to an episode of Teen Voices. Listen as youth discuss the dangers of sexting, the pressures they may experience to participate, and the consequences of engaging in online sexual relationships.