The Mind Inside: Episode Two
Teens, educators, and mental health experts all have a vested interest in understanding the changing world of social media.
Based on interviews with students, teachers, and medical experts, the second episode of this I Love Public Schools Films series uncovers how the ever-changing social media landscape affects what happens in the classroom and the lasting impact on students’ mental health.
With remarkable candor, Episode Two illustrates the nuances of the digital and real worlds of today’s student, where the development of the adolescent brain and vulnerabilities of growing up are compounded by daily, persistent online interactions.
The 30-minute film includes the story of Reid Adler, a victim of cyberbullying and the inspiration behind the metro-area schools #BeKind initiative. The piece weaves together Reid’s story, told by staff members at Ralston High School, and blends student voices that describe the realities of today’s school experience, complicated by social media.
With research indicating a clear relationship between the amount of time spent on social media and an inclination to feel depressed and anxious, the conversation about social media becomes deeply connected with mental health. Throughout the film, real students reveal the ways this impacts their daily lives. From peer pressure to sexting, picture-perfect selfies and online memes, expressing the difficult feelings and behaviors often associated with adolescence conflicts with the happy, image-focused Internet identity amassed in youth culture today.
Meet the Cast
Trae, Senior Omaha Central
Wilber-Clatonia freshman through senior students
Millard North Middle School sixth grade
More about The Mind Inside Series
