‘Cracking the Algorithm’: key takeaways from the young leaders behind a national meeting on digital well-being

In an era where social media shapes the daily lives of young people, understanding its impact on mental health is critical. In light of this, Mental Health America recently hosted “Cracking the Algorithm”, a youth-led summit that seeks to foster collaboration and creativity among key stakeholders from various fields related to social media and/or youth mental health. Each session, workshop and discussion was a step towards better understanding the issue at hand and better supporting young people’s digital wellbeing.

Here are some highlights from each session.

In the first introductory session, “Bridging Knowledge Gaps in Youth Mental Health and Social Media,” moderator Mohammad Shedeed led an inspiring discussion with panelist Corbin Evans, JD, MPP, MBA. S. Bryn Austin, ScD, MS; Rachel Hanebutt, EdM, MA, MS; and Eduardo Lara. The session addressed popular misconceptions and myths about social media platforms and their interrelationship with mental health. Participants also discussed possible designs for better platforms.

Basic foods:

• Young people are not a monolithic group and should not be treated as such when making decisions in this field.
• Social media isn’t all good or bad – it can be both!
• Not enough people are investigating the link between social media and mental health, in part because of insufficient funding and missing data from tech companies.

During the second session, titled “Echoes of Inequity: Understanding the Disparate Experiences of Youth Online,” moderator Tinuola Adebukola, MPH, CPH led a dynamic discussion with panelists Alfiee Breland-Noble, PhD, MHSc; Joel Bervell; Alejandra Gomez? and Jacquelyn Ogorchukwu Iyamah, MS. Panelists focused on the unique challenges marginalized communities face in the digital landscape, exploring topics such as racial trauma, misinformation, and the need for equitable design features on social media platforms.

Basic foods:

• The challenges faced by marginalized youth offline are also perpetuated online, underscoring the importance of creating inclusive digital spaces.
• Racial trauma and misinformation perpetuated on social media platforms exacerbate mental health challenges among youth of color, highlighting the need for trauma-informed solutions.
• Equitable design features and co-creation with people with lived experience are essential to mitigating the effects of racial trauma and promoting a safer online environment.

In the third session of the summit, titled “Integrating Multidisciplinary Perspectives to Redefine the Digital Landscape,” moderator Mahmoud Khedr led a thought-provoking discussion with Zainab Okolo, EdD, LCMFT. Zamaan Qureshi? Rob Rasko? and Kristine Gloria, PhD. The discussion sought to uncover what it takes to positively impact the digital ecosystem through an interdisciplinary perspective and cross-sector collaboration.

Basic foods:

• Young people have had experiences that make them experts in the technology they use, so efforts must be made to bring young people into meaningful conversations.
• The rise in popularity of mental health has led to increased misinformation and pathologising online, potentially causing unnecessary harm.
• Stakeholders should be aware that social media use can be influenced by how young people grew up, including their education and socio-economic status.

The fourth and final session of the “Breaking the Algorithm” summit included four design sprints to encourage creative problem solving and collaboration among participants. These sprints were led by youth leaders and each focused on a key aspect of the social media landscape: equity (led by Isabel Ohakamma), product features (led by Keegan Lee), business models (led by Mahmoud Khedr ) and cross-sectoral collaboration (led by Sam Gerry). The structure of each sprint was established by Omri Gal and Sami Kosaraju, ultimately encouraging each team member to think about where we are now, where we want to go, and how we will get there. This session served as a valuable way for summit participants to brainstorm with colleagues and promote the development of new initiatives aimed at building a healthier digital ecosystem.

In short, “Breaking the Algorithm” was a valuable reminder that young people can and should lead the way as we begin to transform the digital landscape. With that said, this summit marks just the beginning of our commitment to make meaningful change in this landscape. Keep an eye out for information on our summit research later this year!

Want to help us create healthier online spaces? Share your thoughts through our survey.