How often are we influenced by the items advertised to us on our social media feeds?

In this episode, we’ll explore another aspect of our online experiences: how media portrays alcohol and other substances. We'll use the results of a 2023 HOPE Survey to understand the influence of alcohol and substance promotion on youth's social media feeds.

Host: Edward Thomas, Sanjna Hegde & Vaibhava Rajesh
Audio Engineer: Gabriella Frenes & Rushil Ladhawala

Resource:
HOPE Survey: https://www.youthforhope.org/atodsm

As we continue to explore the world of social media, today we wanted to delve into negative aspects that affect how we use platforms. Within our episode, we cover and discuss our own experiences with topics like cyberbullying and fake accounts.

As our world transitions into a more technologically advanced place, comprehending the diverse effects it has on us, both positive and negative, is essential. Whether it’s the journey of joining social media or the process of disengaging from it, discussing its impact on mental well-being, or its ability to enhance our social interaction, every individual’s experience varies.

In this episode, Edward, Sanjna, and Vaibhava shared their story of creating a social media account and what came after.

Tips & Tricks for healthier social media use:

• Being able to recognize if you are forming an unhealthy relationship with social media, prioritizing yourself by taking screen breaks, talking to a trusted adult or friend
• Setting app limits to ensure you aren’t overusing social media, and have something to hold you accountable
• Try to use social media in a positive way, inspire and motivate

About:

The HOPE Podcast is created by Edward Thomas, Sanjna Hegde, and Vaibhava Rajesh. The HOPE Podcast is a collaboration between GoodforMEdia and yli's HOPE Coalition.

GoodforMEdia is a peer mentoring program for older teens and young adults to share their personal stories, insights, and strategies with younger teens and tweens to support their healthier engagement with technology and social media.

HOPE Coalition is a statewide campaign to address the harmful messages we absorb online. We organize to engage Meta, and the larger online community, in promoting age-appropriate, transparent, and youth-led messages.