Catherine

Ongoing since 2019

Project Directors: Linda Charmaraman, Ph.D. and Catherine Delcourt, Ph.D.

Funded by: Metrowest Women's Fund, I Am Strong Foundation, Co-sponsored by Wellesley Centers for Women and Wellesley College Computer Science Department

 

Early adolescence is a particularly vulnerable age due to heightened awareness of peer status, approval, and rejection. It is associated with a drop in self-esteem, weaker academic performance, and increased anxiety and competition with others. Because teens spend so much time online, supporting healthy social media use through mobile platforms could reach more individuals than traditional dissemination of psychological services. 95% of teens from all racial backgrounds have access to a smartphone, 85% use social media sites, and 45% of them are online constantly.

The primary goals of this study were to form community partnership with middle school students, counselors, educators, and parents in hopes of a) identifying and addressing mental health and wellbeing needs of young teens using smartphones, games, and social media, b) developing a plan to target these needs through a social media awareness mobile app, and c) piloting a summer workshop with students to address wellbeing needs through social technologies.

For this project, the Youth, Media & Wellbeing Research Lab collaborated with a team of community and academic experts from media literacy, counseling, computer science, and STEM learning to generate interest in developing a social media wellbeing awareness mobile app, co-designed by youth who would be the primary users of the app.

 

Summer Workshops

Save the dates for Summer In-Person Workshop, June 20-21 and Summer Virtual Workshop 2024, July 15-19. If you are interested in applying, please sign up here.

As part of this project, the Youth, Media & Wellbeing Research Lab held annual workshops for middle school students on STEM, digital wellbeing, and identity. The workshops provided opportunities for youth to have conversations with guest speakers in STEM fields, explore their identities through creative activities, and collaboratively design and test-drive their own social media sites. Participants reported that the workshops made them more aware of ways to use social media in more productive, healthy, and inclusive ways. They also experienced significant increases in self-esteem and agency.

 

Spring Workshops

Based on feedback from 2023's summer workshop participants and our Youth Advisory Board, we are piloting more safe spaces to talk about digital wellbeing during the middle school years in order to enhance self-awareness, self-care, and healthy online interactions. With near-peer mentors as facilitators, we are launching our inaugural afterschool workshop club. Instead of a full week commitment of the summer workshops, the virtual club format is drop-in and "mix-and-match." Check out one or come to as many as you want - it's up to you. Middle school girls in grades 5-9 can enroll from anywhere as long as they have internet access. One of our clubs this year will be conducted in-person at our partner organization, OUTMetrowest in Framingham. More details in the signup below.

Sign up for Spring Workshops

 

Afterschool Series Flyer 2024

 

Read more about the workshops:


Contact wcw@wellesley.edu for more information about future workshops or follow the lab on Instagram.


  • KIDS ARE SAYING

    “I would describe it as a fun opportunity to learn about STEM, whether you are inexperienced or an expert.”

    —— Summer 2021 Workshop Participant, Age 13

  • KIDS ARE SAYING

    “A great place for middle schoolers to learn about their identity while interacting with different students from around the country.”

    —— Summer 2021 Workshop Participant, Age 13

  • KIDS ARE SAYING

    “A fun and inspiring workshop, with many kind facilitators, that teaches students about STEM and how to be careful and monitor mental health online.”

    —— Summer 2021 Workshop Participant, Age 12

  • KIDS ARE SAYING

    “A very fun and supportive camp, where you can learn and think of STEM and your own STEM identity.”

    —— Summer 2021 Workshop Participant, Age 12

  • KIDS ARE SAYING

    “A nice friendly place with people who won't judge you and are the friendliest people I have ever met.”

    —— Summer 2021 Workshop Participant, Age 12


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