Social Media and the Psychology of Phone Use (Screen Time Slides and Experiment)

Introducing a teaching resource that explores the psychology of social media and phone use. This product guides students to understand the current research on how social media impacts identity, relationships, and wellbeing. It begins by presenting statistics and discussion questions about social media usage. A TED talk with guided reflection prompts students to think critically about the effects of technology. Explanatory content dives deeper into concerns like digital addiction, comparison culture, privacy issues, and more with embedded discussion questions. Finally, an experiential project has students track their personal screen time, try an intervention to reduce usage, and reflect. This multifaceted resource covers the key issues through slides, videos, readings, discussions, and student self-exploration to illuminate the psychology behind social media and empower more intentional technology usage. Applicable for adolescent development or intro psychology courses.