3 Organizations Advocating for Better Mental Health on Social Media
I’m a marketer that has worked in social media for over a decade. I have seen the good, bad, and ugly that these platforms have on their users. As a user myself, I’ve felt the impact too.
As a millennial that grew up with MySpace at age 14, I got a taste of how exhilarating or hurtful a change in the “Top 8” friends could be. At 16, I remember posting statuses of mundane activities that started with a templated “Hillary is…” At 20, I was posting my first overly-saturated Instagram photo with no worries about likes and comments, because they didn’t exist.
While I got a glimpse of the impact social media has had in my crucial years of development, my identity was not tied up in it. My weekends were not fueled by content creation for my channels, or nights scrolling through distant friends’ posts. And still, I have felt the negative parts of social media in my life from time to time.
When I look at our future generations, this negativity is rampant. Bullying has gone from the hallways to the DMs. Feedback is constant, and “not enough likes” is a determining factor for self-worth. It’s a cycle that we haven’t seen in history and have yet to fully understand the consequences of.
Social media is an incredible tool for staying informed, connected, and creative. But like a toddler behind the wheel of a semi-truck, we were not prepared for this level of responsibility, and a little naïve about just how poorly things can keep going if we don’t get a little help.
Brands have been clear winners in the digital age. Advertisers have gained access to rich user data, targeted core customers at a fraction of the previous price, and rallied word-of-mouth loyalty through fans sharing their products and services online.
It’s my belief that brands are in service of their customers. Our job is to meet their needs, wants and interests, in exchange for their business and loyalty. Through that lens, their wellbeing on the internet is our responsibility. As the holders of advertising dollars, we make decisions every day about what kind of future our users will have on the internet. The mental health and wellbeing of digital consumers are on the line.
With great power comes great responsibility, right?
At Social HQ, we’re committed to making social media a better place to be. It is good for the well-being of our customers, and it’s good for business. Here are organizations we admire and support who are on a mission to improve the wellbeing of digital consumers through education, representation, and critical thinking.
Reboot Foundation
About: The Reboot Foundation is devoted to elevating critical thinking. In a time of vast technological change, the foundation aims to promote richer, more reflective forms of thought in schools, homes, and businesses.
Read now: Check out their report The State of Critical Thinking, which discusses social media’s impact on mental health in 2021.
Media Literacy Now
About: Media Literacy Now is leading the grassroots movement to create a public education system that ensures all students learn the 21st-century literacy skills they need for health, well-being, economic participation, and citizenship.
Watch now: What is Media Literacy?
The Cybersmile Foundation
About: The Cybersmile Foundation is a multi-award-winning nonprofit organization committed to digital wellbeing and tackling all forms of bullying and abuse online. They work to promote kindness, diversity, and inclusion by building a safer, more positive digital community.
Check it out: Their website is filled with great research and information on how to make the internet a better place.
We’re at a critical point in the era of the internet. The connectedness can either divide us and drive us mad, or it can help our society grow better than before. It won’t happen overnight, and it won’t happen on accident. We need brands that will take a stand with organizations like these to make the internet a safer, better place to be for all. Because it’s the right thing to do.
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I'm Hillary.
Behind social hq
I’m passionate about creating a space on the internet for brands to drive positive change for their audience. Whether it’s providing entertainment, education, or inspiration, I believe that brands have an obligation to their customers to invest socially in the loyalty that they seek from their buyers. And like any good relationship, it’s a two-way street.
That’s what I love about social. I mean, when’s the last time a billboard responded to your question?
