As featured in The New York Times & The Washington Post
GoodforMEdia
A youth-led, peer mentoring & education program exploring the ME in media
A hub for sharing resources
Insights, strategies & stories to support healthy engagement
AI is changing our world, but it often overlooks LGBTQ voices! The new GLAAD report highlights biases in AI that can result in misinformation, discrimination, and privacy issues for the LGBTQ community. n this piece, GoodforMEdia Youth Leaders share the need for companies to prioritize diverse training data and collaborate with LGBTQ experts to create inclusive AI standards that benefit everyone.
GoodforMEdia (GFM) youth leaders led interactive workshops at Stanford's Tech-X Program, a one-week summer program for high school students interested in mental health and technology innovation. Across two weeks, participants explored the impact of technology on young people's mental health and learned practical strategies for building healthier digital habits.
From “Am I cooked” to “Is this a valid crashout?” social media has become the go-to place for many teens to ask the internet how we should feel. But what if we are skipping an important step: checking in with ourselves first? In this blog, GoodforMEdia youth leader Alvin unpacks why emotional validation should not be crowdsourced and how taking a moment to reflect before posting can help build healthier habits online.
In this diptych poem, GoodforMEdia youth leader Emily explores one day lived on and off social media, moving through the same moments - the morning, the body, the afternoon, the night - and finding two different selves on each side. This captivating piece invites us to pause and sit with the question: what does a single day feel like when you're living it for an audience, and what does it feel like when you're not?
From Snapchat to TikTok to Instagram, the apps young people use most have quietly added a new feature: an AI chatbot you never opted in to. In this blog, GoodforMEdia youth leader Jessica discusses how these platforms have embedded AI into our feeds, chat lists, and direct messages, often with no option to opt out. Read the blog to better understand what this shift means for young people, and why having a say in the technology shaping our digital lives matters.
Social media has made it easier than ever to compare ourselves to others and harder than ever to feel like enough. In this blog, GoodforMEdia youth leader, Andres, explores the unspoken pressure young people feel to perform academically and be seen online. Explore what it looks like to find motivation that doesn’t depend on anyone’s approval and discover what it means to live without an audience.
Is AI impacting your educational experience? Edward, a second-year college student, reflects on how generative AI is transforming what learning looks like for him. From how his professors are responding, to what it means to produce work that is truly his own, learn how he is finding the balance between embracing the tool and protecting his learning process.
We are three months into 2026, and the pace of tech is moving faster than ever. From new AI tools to evolving social media platforms, technology continues to shape how we connect, learn, and experience the world around us. In this blog, GoodforMEdia Youth Leaders share what they think are the best and worst things about tech so far this year, highlighting the positive impact and challenges that come with it.
Group chats help us stay connected with friends, classmates, family members, and communities. But these conversations over text can sometimes lead to misunderstandings or pressure. Developed by GoodforMEdia Youth Leaders, these tips can help you navigate group chats in ways that support respectful communication and your wellbeing.
Scrolling before bed has become a common nighttime habit for young people. What may start as a quick check of notifications or a few videos can easily turn into an hour of doomscrolling, and before you know it, you’re having trouble falling asleep. Our GoodforMEdia Youth Leaders describe why this happens and offer suggestions for breaking the cycle and creating a better routine that helps you get the Zzzs you need.
Hear our perspectives about social media
Elevating youth voices
Social media is a powerful tool for gathering information—but how beneficial is it, really? In this video, Kareem shares his concerns about the overwhelming availability of information today, much of which isn’t fact-checked. Discover how he navigates misinformation and encourages his peers to do the same.
How do you know if your social media habits are unhealthy? Salem shares their response, offering a personal take on managing screen time, staying connected with friends, and finding balance between the online world and real life. Watch the video for their full advice.
Edward dives into when social media use can become unhealthy and how to find a better balance. Watch now for tips on setting boundaries and prioritizing real connections!
How often do you pause to reflect on your scrolling habits? Now's your chance! Check out Naiya’s tips for prioritizing her mental health while using social media and technology.
Sonia opens up about how social media has impacted her mental health—the good, the bad, and how she’s learned to set boundaries. Watch now for tips on maintaining a healthier relationship with these platforms!
Tired of being shamed for your phone use? Jessica is too! Check out what she believes is the right approach to navigating today's digital world and how our adult allies can do more to support.
Hear what Sonia has to say— tune in for her response to the question of social media use being viewed as a moral failure. She breaks down how platform features impact youth and what we can do about it.
Is social media boosting or hindering Sanjna's education? Find out in this video! Discover how she navigates the digital world and stays focused on her studies.
Katy and Zenia share what they wish they knew before stepping into the world of social media. Discover the valuable lessons they’ve learned and their tips for managing your digital footprint!
Drake gets real about starting social media at a young age and reveals the lessons he wishes he'd known before diving into the apps.
Hear from Sonia about her experience using social media, its impact on her education, and strategies that help to keep her grounded.
Hear from Edward about his experiences using social media and some strategies he uses to be mindful about the time he spends scrolling.
Advice for parents: hear Chloe’s suggestions for how to help your kids navigate social media
Learn why Khoa-Nathan recommends that social media companies stop centering profit & start centering youth and consumers
Learn from Sonia about the harmful effects of algorithms & how they may be limited
Find out how Zoe recommends improving data transparency among social media platforms
Emily explains the importance of considering age when thinking about content regulation
Cyrus shares about what he learned from posting every moment on social media
Hear how and why Isabella balances heavy and uplifting content in her feed
How social media can amplify negative thoughts by creating unrealistic expectations
Hear about how Jamie would have used social media differently to focus on the things that really matter
It’s important to notice what makes me feel insecure…
Learn how Sophia protects her mental health by setting boundaries with social media
This is something that I would tell my younger self …
Find out James’ advice for his younger self or younger sibling when it comes to getting a first phone
Hear Zoe’s thoughts on what to ask social media platforms to change
Try to pay attention to the subtle messages that you’re getting from your feed…
Get Emily’s advice about when & why to follow or unfollow others on social media
Our mission
Helping you navigate the good & the bad of social media
GoodforMEdia is a youth-led, peer mentoring & education program exploring the ME in media. Using our own experiences & insights, we’re here to help you learn how to navigate social media effectively.
“I am involved with #GoodforMEdia because I want to decrease stigma around discussing mental health. I want to help other kids navigate the balance between social media and overall well-being.”
-Emily (she/her)
“I view social media as not just a challenge for this generation, but also a tool for expression and storytelling to make the world a better place.”
-Khoa-Nathan Ngo (he/they)
Sharing evidence-based insights
Created for youth by youth, the GoodforMEdia curriculum aims to share our perspectives and strategies for healthier relationships with media & technology. The GoodforMEdia team offers in-person and virtual workshops in schools, at youth-serving organizations and groups, and at conferences or other community events.
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GoodforMEdia in the press
Check out this new editorial, co-authored by our very own Vicki Harrison, MSW, co-founder of #GoodforMEdia. The piece reviews Australia’s proposed social media ban for youth under 16, exploring both the risks and benefits for young people and offering a three-part framework for safer, more supportive online environments.
Check out the Lucile Packard Foundation’s Fall 2024 Magazine publication, featuring our program’s events, projects, and efforts to empower young people’s balanced engagement with tech and social media. Read more here.
Vicki Harrison, #GFM co-founder and program director, shares about her published work and the need for youth to be included in the dialogue about how to support their wellbeing. Read more here.
In this op-ed, Chloe Kim responds to Surgeon General Murthy’s call for social media warning labels by affirming that cell phones and social platforms do not have nearly the same harmful effects as a cigarette. Here, Chloe suggests alternative solutions to support young people online.
GoodforMEdia youth advisor Khoa-Nathan was recently interviewed by IDEO to share about the important role young people hold as consumers of platform design. Read more here.
Vicki Harrison, our Program Director, shares about the different impacts young people are facing online, and suggests including youth in the problem-solving phase from the start, not after.
Edward, our #GoodforMEdia youth advisor, was featured in an article by the NYTimes Upfront Magaizine
#GoodforMEdia youth leaders, Emily & Sonia, wrote an op-ed sharing their perspectives on the California Age Appropriate Design Code
June 2, 2022: #GoodforMEdia youth advisor Tiffany Chen was featured in the San Francisco Chronicle
March 29, 2022: The #GoodforMEdia team provided testimony on how to improve online experiences for young people
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