Mental Health & Well-Being - Social Media Algorithms

Together for Mental Health: Everyone, Everyday
Developing positive mental health is important to academic achievement and overall well-being.

It’s Wellness Wednesday and did you know that social media platforms like Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok use algorithms to decide what content appears in your feed?

Algorithms look at your likes, shares, comments, and even the time you spend on posts to show you more of what you like. The more you interact with certain content, the more similar content you'll see.

To avoid seeing the same things all the time, try engaging with different types of posts and accounts. This can help you see a variety of viewpoints. It's also important to think critically about the content you see. Always check if the information is reliable and from a trustworthy source since anyone can post anything online.

Be aware that your online behavior affects what you see. Understanding how algorithms work will help you make smarter choices about what you like and share.

Parent/Guardian/Caregivers Information

Social media algorithms have a profound influence on our kids’ online experiences, shaping their interactions and gathering personal information. However, by educating ourselves and our children about how these algorithms work, we can start to take back control and promote healthy digital habits.

Check out this tip sheet that can help us understand and shape both our own and our children’s social media algorithms.