Social media, challenges, and risk: Staying safe offline and online

Social media is fun and a way that the youth connect with each other. However, it is also full of risks - like viral challenges that push dangerous stunts or the glorification of substance use. People want likes, followers and approval and peer pressure quickly turns digital. 

Things to remember: 

• Pause before posting: “Would I be okay if my future employer or parent saw this?”

• Don’t cave to dares or challenges that risk your safety. 

• Curate your feed - unfollow accounts that normalize harmful behavior. Instead, follow ones that uplift you and make you feel good. 

• Share safer, fun challenges that promote creativity instead of danger. 

You don’t have to risk your own safety for likes. Safety is always more valuable than views.