Navigating social media's emotional paradox

Building on this awareness, teachers can guide students to reframe discouraging thoughts — for example, replacing "I can never achieve that" with "Their success does not diminish mine". With stronger language and socio-cultural tools to navigate digital spaces — digital transliteracies — students can better manage social comparisons and emotional responses while more effectively discerning lies and manipulation.

Friendships matter. Friends buffer us against harmful comparisons and help us see beyond digital snapshots.

Parents can model healthy, ethical, and safe social media use, and openly discuss its benefits and risks with their children. They can also encourage curiosity about nature and society, helping children find joy beyond screens.

Social media platforms can give users more control over their feeds by allowing them to see a wider range of topics or filter out excessive content about success or hardship.

Laws also matter. For example, the European Union's 2024 Digital Services Act requires large platforms to explain how their algorithms work, assess systemic risks, and allow users to customize their feeds. Such transparency and accountability reduce the harmful effects of algorithmic recommendations, including disinformation and manipulation.

In this digital age, we face a choice: will we let our children get lost in a social media jungle, or help them learn how to navigate its riches?

Written by Michelle Mingyue Gu, Ming Ming Chiu, Angel Mei Yi Lin, Kevin Ka Shing Chan, Angel Nga Man Leung, and Jiapei Gu, all affiliated with The Education University of Hong Kong.