San Diego Unified School District

• Reach out for help. If you or someone you know is being negatively affected by social media, reach out to a trusted friend or adult for help. For information from experts, visit AAP’s Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 for immediate help.


• Create boundaries to help balance online and offline activities. Limit the use of phones, tablets, and computers for at least 1 hour before bedtime and through the night to enable sufficient and quality sleep. Keep mealtimes and in-person gatherings device-free to help build social bonds and engage in two-way conversations with others. Nurture your in-person relationships by connecting with others and making unplugged interactions a daily priority.


• Develop protective strategies and healthy practices such as tracking the amount of time you spend online, blocking unwanted contacts and content, learning about and using available privacy and safety settings, learning and utilizing digital media literacy skills to help tell the difference between fact and opinion, and ensuring you are connecting with peers in-person. See this Tip Sheet on Social Media Use and Mental Health for healthy social media use created for and by young people.

Source: United States Surgeon General's advisory

• Tips on Healthy Social Media Use, Youth Engaged 4 Change
• United States Surgeon General's advisory, Online Safety Tips
• Social Media and Youth Mental Health Q&A Portal, American Academy of Pediatrics
• Webinar: San Diego County of Education. View the PowerPoint presentation using this link (01.24.24)
• Webinar: American Academy of Pediatrics, San Diego & Imperial Counties; Let's "Tok" About It, The Influence of Social Media and Screen Time on Child and Adolescent Mental Health (07.29.23)
• Online safety tips and resources, City of San Diego
• PRIUSS Scale, rating scale to measure internet use and screen time
• San Diego Unified student cell phone policy. Parents, guardians and students should refer to their individual school and/or teacher(s) cell phone policies for expectations during the instructional program.
• Learn about infodemic (Source: World Health Organization)

San Diego Unified Highlights Student Public Service Announcements for Social Media Awareness Campaign: The district’s College, Career & Technical Education Department held a student contest over the past month, designed to raise awareness about the dangers of social media use among students. The district received over 40 submissions. Several students will have their submissions shared on social media, the district’s weekly newsletter, and the district’s website. The contest is part of the district’s Social Media Awareness Campaign to help families understand the risks of social media use by their children. To view the winners, click here.

• If you're interested in joining student organizations related to this topic, consider applying for the SWEAR Committee (Student Wellness Education and Resources) or the Student Advisory Board


• Stay connected with San Diego Unified's student engagement by following us on Instagram @sdusdstudents


• The Office of College, Career and Technical Education (CCTE) will soon announce a student contest for creating a Public Service Announcement (PSA) focused on promoting responsible social media use. For details , please contact [email protected]

Read the message from Student Board Trustees Quinton Baldis and Joseph Cruz sent to students on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024:
English | Español | Filipino

On July 16, 2024, the Board of Education approved a resolution to address the dangers of social media. The district will inform and engage families, students, and educators on responsible social media use, digital literacy, and reducing excessive screen time. Family and student resources will be based on research and best practices and in collaboration with mental health professionals and community partners.