Reimagining Social Media Wellness: A Systemic Approach in the Classroom

Since 2020, we’ve led discussions on Digital and Social Media Wellness in our courses (and beyond). Each semester, the conversation evolves—not just because of the latest research we bring into the classroom, but because of the ever-changing ways students engage with these topics. Cultural shifts, technology trends, and even students' personal experiences all shape how we explore the nuances of digital balance.

This year, I pushed our discussion beyond personal responsibility and into systemic change. While past classes have focused on individual strategies—setting boundaries, adopting digital detox habits, and finding replacement activities—this time, I asked students to step into the role of institutions with the power to make large-scale changes.

And, of course, the session was tech-free.

The Activity: Macro-Level Brainstorming for Social Media Wellness

After reviewing our discussions on social media marketer burnout (which we’ve been conceptualizing in our research with Kiley Pettit), students formed small groups, each representing an influential entity in the social media ecosystem:

• Businesses 

• Social Media Platforms

• Technology Product Developers

• Influencers & Content Creators

• News & Media Organizations

• Nonprofits & Advocacy Groups 

• Healthcare & Mental Health Professionals

• Government 

• Educational Institutions 

  
  

Each group was tasked with brainstorming concrete solutions for their assigned sector. The results were both eye-opening and inspiring.

What Students Came Up With

Surrounded by oversized sheets/whiteboards and markers, students quickly filled their space with ideas. This is just a small taste of what emerged:

• Business Responsibility: Groups proposed that companies offer mandatory "offline" hours for social media teams.

  • They advocated for improved communication charters and pushed for employees to be provided a work phone if they are expected to work remotely (allowing for disconnection from a personal device).

  • One that was discussed across sections was recognizing that leadership should model good behavior to reduce expectations that lead to burnout. 

    
    

• Platform Accountability: Students suggested that age limits should be put into place, advocating for the 16+ benchmark as a more appropriate age to allow for more social media consumption. 

  • Others pushed for AI-powered content moderation tools that reduce the burden on social media managers and flag posts that express mental health concerns.

  • Misinformation was also a concern for groups advocating for Political Policies, including more fact-checking and decreasing the strength of the algorithm so that folks can see broader perspectives.  

    
    

• Government & Policy Change: Similar to the “offline hours” suggested, groups recommend policymakers consider legislation that protects citizen’s personal time, similar to the way France has implemented “right to disconnect” labor law. 

  • Another group went child-focused, advocating for more funding to be put in place for social media wellness education to happen sooner.

    
    

• Responsibility and Transparency: One idea came from a group representing news and media organizations, who suggested considering how to employ Responsible Headlines, reducing unhealthy clickbait practices.

  • Another group representing technology developers argued they should be publicly sharing data-driven articles (possibly leading to responsible media? ;) ) 

    
    

These ideas weren’t just theoretical. Students connected their proposals to real-world examples and acknowledged the tensions—how businesses struggle with the balance between profit and employee well-being, or how platforms are built to encourage engagement rather than discourage it. At the end of the day, we could share and recognize the connection of how none of this work happens in a vacuum. These institutions are connected and can build to create a more balanced society.

Why This Matters

For those who know me, I love to surround myself with my students' work—quite literally. Their ideas are taped around my office as a constant reminder of why we’re doing this work. These conversations aren’t just academic exercises. They are reimagining how the industry could evolve to support healthier digital habits—not just for consumers, but for those working behind the screens.

If you’re looking for ways to introduce Social Media Wellness into your classroom, check out our research in the Journal of Macromarketing for additional ideas. The conversation is shifting, and it’s time we start designing solutions that go beyond the individual.

Would love to hear from others—what macro-level changes do you think would have the biggest impact on digital and social media wellness?