Students praising students on Instagram and Facebook
Every student has a chance to make a difference digitally (meaning on instagram, facebook, etc.). This can be through simple, kind comments on someone’s post or through more elaborate projects to make the internet more positive. Kids have an innate desire to help and uplift others.
Yesterday, I was raking the leaves in my front yard when my son and his friend came up and offered to help. I loved it! I praised them for their help and asked if they thought anyone else might need help. They immediately decided they would be the “Hippers,” a helper squad that would go around helping people, then shout “Hip hip hooray!”
Students want to help. They care about each other and want others to care about them. It’s exciting they can now do this on a larger scale using technology. We have so many digital tools at our fingertips and we get to choose what we do with these tools. Check out some examples below, these give me goosebumps.
Humans of Loara – Students on Facebook
Loara High School students, in Anaheim, CA, have created an Instagram and Facebook page for their group, “Humans of Loara.” Being inspired by “Humans of New York” they couldn’t wait to implement it in their own student Instagram accounts.
These students randomly choose someone everyday to get to know the students and teachers at their school. They promote positivity online and use the hashtag #iCanHelp.
@thebenevelontone3 – Students on Instagram
A student on Instagram in Spokane, WA, complimented his fellow students all year long from an anonymous instagram account, @thebenevelontone3.
He kept his identity secret as he shared something positive about every student, he revealed himself when giving his co-valedictorian speech at the end of the year.
The students loved this instagram account and praised it for positively influencing all of them.
#IDOH – Students on YouTube
At a different high school, students of a DigCit class created videos to spread happiness to combat haters and trolls. The teacher explains the assignment they were given and shares the videos they created to spread happiness on International Day of Happiness #IDOH.
What ways can you make a difference in your schools and community using technology?
Please share with us any ideas or examples you know of where students are uplifting other students using digital media.