Good, Bad, Balance: Keys to Avoiding the Pitfalls of Social Media | Lena Kalandjian | TEDxYouth@NBPS

For many young people, a world connected by social media is all they have ever known. As we continue to learn more about the impact that social media can have on mental health, it is crucial that we understand how to build healthy habits, maximize the benefits of social media, and limit the dangers. This TEDx talk will discuss the how social media impacts the formation of self-identity, as well as strategies to recognize and limit unhealthy comparisons. Lena Kalandjian is an Armenian-American student with a passion for fostering safe, inclusive, and anti-violent communities. By co-founding her school’s Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) Promise Club, Lena has led violence prevention and diversity education workshops across her community that impact over 1,500 students annually. Lena serves on the Sandy Hook Promise National Youth Advisory Board where she works to design curricula, call-to-action programs, and mental health resources to support students in preventing violence across the United States. In addition to having worked with the Biden-Harris Presidential Transition Team and TIME Magazine, Lena has also co-organized a webinar through the National Center for School Safety at the University of Michigan to teach educators and professionals about the effects of social media on youth. At her high school, Lena is Executive President of Student Government, Concertmaster of the orchestra, and a Varsity Track & Field and Basketball athlete. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx