Navigating Life Online, with Laura Tierney

“Social media is a tool. If people aren’t equipped to navigate it positively, you are going to see negative consequences like anxiety and depression…I liken social media to giving students the key to a car….” (Laura Tierney) For better or for worse, the girls in our lives “do” social media; they are “connected” to TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and more. In fact, recent surveys tell us that 98% of the teenage girls in the survey used social media daily, spending about 2 hours on average–average– specifically on well known social media apps. Yet, the truth is that girls are conflicted about their relationship with social media. Many use the word “addicted,” aware they are wasting time scrolling but find social media to be essential for creative inspiration, relaxation and connectivity. Frankly, they already know social media plays both positive and negative roles in their lives. Clearly, it is a powerful influencer, but adults can proactively help girls manage their connection to social media so that their social media use doesn’t manage them. In this episode of The Connected Girl, host Trudy Hall invites Laura Tierney, the Founder and CEO of the Social Institute, to share proactive strategies for negotiating this tricky terrain. The Social Institute has designed a unique approach to help students navigate the possibilities of social media so that it can fuel wellness and future success, showcasing role models and leaning into character strengths such as empathy, integrity and teamwork to inspire students to make good choices with their social media use. She reminds us that we are–and need to be– critical partners with girls in this arena, keeping them connected to their real selves even as they stay connected to their smartphones. Resources: The Social Institute: https://thesocialinstitute.com/ Common Sense Media Report: How Girls Really Feel About Social Media:https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/report/how-girls-really-feel-about-social-media-researchreport_web_final_2.pdf International Coalition of Girls Schools: https://girlsschools.org/ Tell Our Story :https://girlsschools.org/advocacy/blog/2022/07/13/the-icgs-community-poem/