Social Media & Mental Health
Setting a time limit / taking breaks.
What simple habit can help protect your mental health when scrolling?
When likes/followers make something seem more valuable.
What is “social proof”?
Hurting someone online through messages, posts, or repeated negative behavior.
What is cyberbullying?
A brain chemical linked to rewards and motivation.
What is dopamine?
A rule you set for how and when you use technology.
What is a digital boundary?
The dopamine loop.
What “loop” explains why people keep scrolling for likes?
Parasocial cues.
What emotional trick do influencers use to make you feel like their “friend group”?
It becomes repeated, targeting, or meant to harm.
What is one sign something has crossed from teasing into bullying?
You scroll, you get a small reward, your brain wants more, then you keep scrolling.
What’s the “dopamine loop” in social media?
No phone before bed / app limits / no notifications after 9pm.
Give one example of a healthy digital boundary.
Their self-esteem can drop.
What happens when someone compares their life to perfect-looking posts?
“Who benefits from this?” or “Who paid for this?”
What’s one question you should ask yourself before believing a post?
Support the person privately or report the behavior.
What’s one safe thing an upstander can do?
They give a quick burst of dopamine because they feel like a reward.
Why do notifications feel exciting?
They protect sleep, focus, and reduce stress or comparison.
Why do digital boundaries help mental health?
No phone before bed / muting triggering accounts / scheduled screen breaks
What is one healthy boundary you can set online?
They show curated, unrealistic versions of life.
Why can influencer posts affect your self-worth?
Fear of becoming a target / not knowing what to say.
What’s one reason people don’t speak up when they see bullying?
Infinite scroll, surprises, or unpredictable rewards.
What design trick makes apps trigger the dopamine loop?
Boredom, stress, or wanting distraction.
What’s one trigger that can cause someone to start scrolling?
The Ladder of Inference
What thinking mistake happens when you see one post and jump to conclusions?
Titles like “You won’t believe what happened next” that pull you in.
What’s a “curiosity gap” technique?
Screenshot evidence and tell a trusted adult or platform moderator.
What is a helpful first step if you witness cyberbullying?
Your brain starts craving the next reward even when you know you should stop.
Why can the dopamine loop make it hard to stop using your phone?
Screen-time tools, accountability buddy, or phone-free zones.
What is one strategy to keep a boundary consistent?