Social media platforms have become landscapes for learning and increasing awareness of topics like mental health. But for children who are learning how to navigate virtual spaces, the pitfalls are many and hidden. Educators and researchers are becoming increasingly worried how much kids are absorbing the digital information they find online about mental health, which they are unlikely to fully grasp even if the information is trustworthy. 

For many counselors, the prevalence of children using social media to self-diagnose suggests a larger problem related to lasting social and emotional impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, unregulated virtual spaces and the importance of teaching media literacy skills. Technology may pose solutions, too: some counselors say they are changing how they connect with students and are testing out artificial intelligence platforms.

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