Digital Smarts - Helping Kids Use Social Media in a Positive Way

Depending on how it’s used, social media can have a positive or negative effect on kids' well-being, says Michael Gaskell, principal at Hammarskjold Middle School in East Brunswick, N.J. In a recent blog post, Gaskell shares three common issues with social media and what parents and educators can do to counter them. He outlines some of the dangers to kids’ well-being, such as comparing their body type to what they see online, and discusses the danger of posting words and images students may later come to regret years after posting them. He also cites a study that found how using social media without a conscious awareness of its impact lowers brainpower.