Teaching High School Students Safe Social Media Usage: Tips and Activities
Introduction: In today’s digital age, social media plays a significant role in the lives of high school students. As educators, it’s essential to teach them how to use social media responsibly and safely. This blog post will provide an overview of essential social skills for high school students to navigate social media and engage in a no-prep activity to promote responsible online behavior. We will also discuss related skills and provide resources for further exploration.
No-Prep Activity: The Social Media Safety Skit
This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator. Have students pair up and create a short skit about safe social media usage. Each pair should address one of the following topics:
- Who to talk to: staying safe and not communicating with strangers
- What to say: using social skills and the Think It or Say It rule
- What to post: being mindful of Public vs. Private skills
After students have created their skits, have them present to the class. This activity encourages students to think critically about their online behavior and reinforces the importance of responsible social media usage.
Discussion Questions
- Why is it important to be cautious about who you communicate with on social media? Can you think of any potential dangers?
- How can the Think It or Say It rule help you make better decisions about what to say on social media? Can you think of a time when you used this rule online?
- What are some examples of things you should keep private on social media? Why is it important to be mindful of Public vs. Private skills when posting online?
- How can we help our friends and peers make responsible choices on social media? Can you think of a situation where you helped someone make a better decision online?
Related Skills
In addition to the social skills discussed above, there are other relevant skills for students to develop as they navigate social media. Some of these include:
- Digital citizenship: understanding the rights and responsibilities of participating in online communities
- Empathy: being aware of and sensitive to the feelings of others, both online and offline
- Critical thinking: evaluating the credibility and accuracy of information found online
- Conflict resolution: addressing disagreements and misunderstandings in a respectful and constructive manner, whether in person or online
Next Steps
Teaching high school students to use social media safely and responsibly is an essential aspect of their social-emotional development. By incorporating principles of Social-Emotional Learning, we can empower students to make better decisions and foster a positive online community. To further support your students’ growth in this area, we encourage you to sign up for free samples of materials related to social skills and other essential competencies. These resources can help you create engaging and effective lessons that address the unique needs of your students.
