My Digital Footprint Challenge

Part 1: My Social Media Snapshot

1. List the top 3 social media platforms you use most frequently:
   
   
   
   

2. On average, how many hours do you spend on social media each day? (Estimate)
   
   
   
   

3. What's one thing you love about using social media?
   
   
   
   

4. What's one thing you dislike or find challenging about using social media?
   
   
   
   

5. How do you typically feel immediately after spending a significant amount of time on social media (e.g., an hour or more)?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Content Consumption & Impact

1. Describe the types of accounts, pages, or content you typically follow or engage with. (e.g., friends, celebrities, news, humor, educational, gaming)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Think about the content you see. Does it generally make you feel:

   • Inspired/Motivated
   • Happy/Amused
   • Anxious/Stressed
   • Sad/Down
   • Jealous/Inadequate
   • Informed/Educated
   • Other:
     
     Explain your choice(s):
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

3. Have you ever encountered misinformation or content you suspected wasn't true online? If so, what did you do?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. How often do you find yourself comparing your life to others you see on social media?

   • Never
   • Rarely
   • Sometimes
   • Often
   • Always
     Explain your answer:
     
     
     
     

Part 3: Reflecting on My Habits

1. Consider your answers above. What is one positive habit you have regarding social media?
   
   
   
   

2. What is one habit you have that you think might be negatively impacting your digital well-being?
   
   
   
   

3. Based on today's discussion and your reflections, identify one specific, actionable step you can take to improve your digital wellness.

   My Digital Pledge:
   I will _____________________________________________________________________________
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Discussion Guide: Online Impact & You

Opening the Discussion (5 minutes)

1. "Based on the 'My Digital Footprint Challenge' activity, what was one surprising thing you learned about your own social media habits or feelings?"

   • Follow-up: "Did anyone discover a habit they want to change?"

2. "We talked about FOMO and comparison culture. Can anyone share (without naming names) an example of how they've felt this, or seen it affect someone else?"

   • Follow-up: "How do these feelings impact our well-being?"

Understanding Influence (10 minutes)

1. "Social media often shows us a 'highlight reel' of other people's lives. How does this curated reality impact our perception of ourselves and others?"

   • Follow-up: "What are the dangers of believing everything you see online is 100% real or achievable?"

2. "Think about the algorithms that personalize your feed. How do you think these algorithms influence what you see, what you think, and even what you buy?"

   • Follow-up: "How can understanding algorithms help us be more intentional about our online experience?"

Media Literacy & Critical Thinking (15 minutes)

1. "In today's digital world, how important is it to be able to identify misinformation or fake news? Why?"

   • Follow-up: "What are some practical steps you take (or could take) to verify information you see online before sharing it or believing it?"

2. "Beyond news, how do we critically evaluate the messages we receive from influencers, ads, or even friends online? What questions should we ask ourselves?"

   • Follow-up: "How can we develop a healthier skepticism without becoming completely cynical?"

Building Healthy Habits (10 minutes)

1. "What are some specific boundaries you think are important to set around social media use (e.g., time limits, 'no phone zones', pre-sleep routines)?"

   • Follow-up: "What makes it hard to stick to these boundaries, and how can we overcome those challenges?"

2. "Besides limiting screen time, what are other ways we can foster a more positive and healthy relationship with social media? (e.g., curating your feed, engaging meaningfully, protecting privacy)"

   • Follow-up: "What role does self-compassion play when we're trying to change our digital habits?"

Closing & Next Steps (5 minutes)

1. "Looking back at your 'Digital Pledge' from the activity, what's one piece of advice you'd give to a friend who is struggling with their digital well-being?"
   • Follow-up: "Remember, digital wellness is an ongoing journey. What's one key takeaway you'll remember from today's lesson?"