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Showing posts from February, 2025

Engaging Young People on Social Media: Innovative Strategies for Social Workers

Introduction Social media is more than just a platform for selfies and memes—it's a vital space where young people connect, share, and seek support. For social workers, this digital landscape offers exciting opportunities to engage and empower youth. In this blog, we'll explore creative and impactful ways social workers can reach young people effectively. The Power of Storytelling Authentic Narratives Young people resonate with real stories. Social workers can share compelling narratives—whether personal experiences or success stories from clients—to create a genuine connection. Authenticity fosters trust and encourages young people to engage. Visual Storytelling Platforms like Instagram and TikTok thrive on visual content. Social workers can use short videos or eye-catching graphics to convey messages about mental health, resilience, and community support, making information more digestible and relatable. Gamification: Making Support Fun Interactive Challenges Creating fun cha...
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How do social workers reach young people in social media? - Theme 3 Social professionals and educators can now effectively interact with youth through social media. Professionals may speak about topics like bullying , substance abuse , and mental health on platforms like You-tube, Instagram, and TikTok. Here we explore ways to reducing bullying on social media and examine instances of social workers effectively addressing young audiences. Examples of social work with young people ( 13- 25 ) on social media platforms 1.Laakari.atte ( Instagram ) Laakari.atte is a Finnish doctor (Atte Ahonen) who uses Instagram to educate young people about health, Substance abuse , and mental health. He shares relatable , easy-to - understand posts, stories, and reels about topics like alcohol, drugs, and mental health. His approach is non-judgmental and youth-friendly, using humor and personal anecdotes to connect with his audience. Young people trust him because he speaks their language and provide ev...
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  BLOG THEME 3👫  How do social workers reach young people in social media?👫 Social media has become an essential space for communication, especially for young people. As a result, it has also emerged as a powerful tool for social workers, educators, and professionals to connect with their target audience, particularly those aged 13-25. Social media influencers, professionals like doctors, and social workers have embraced platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to spread awareness, promote mental health, and tackle issues such as substance abuse and bullying. Let’s explore how social workers and other professionals engage with young people through these platforms.   Social Work with Young People on Social Media Social media has become a key tool for social workers to engage with young people on issues like mental health and substance abuse. An example is Dr. Laakari Atte, a doctor on Instagram, who addresses substance abuse and addiction by sharing edu...

How to Reach Young People in Social Media? (Theme 3)

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  BLOG THEME 3: How do social   workers reach young people in social  media?   - Social work with young people (13-25 years old) as target group in different social media platforms   Social media influencers Before our lesson I could not na me many of social media influencers that tries to reach young people. I knew that T erapeutti Ville (therapist Ville) makes Tik Tok videos and try to make you ng people feel comfortable about future and answers some questions in life. Ville is not only making Tik Tok videos, but h e is also a politician and works in Finnish parliament.   Before our lesson I did not know who was laakari.atte but I checked his   profile in social media.  In his Tik Tok profile he g i ves information and facts abo ut the harmful things/habits that young people uses f.ex . nicotine and also some other health related information. In my opinion he tries to share his knowledge about health and so that young peo...

Children and Media: Insights from a Veteran Early Childhood Education Manager

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In today’s digital world, children interact with media daily. A veteran educator and Early Childhood Education Manager (varhaiskasvatuksen hoitaja) shared her thoughts on the key areas influencing a child’s interaction with media. She emphasized three critical aspects that nurture children’s media literacy and exploration: 1. Exposure at Home The foundation of a child’s understanding of media begins at home. Parents and guardians play a vital role in shaping how children perceive and engage with media. By providing guidance, setting limits, and engaging in shared media experiences, families create a supportive environment for children to learn about media use responsibly. 2. Media Projects in Schools The second pillar focuses on media-related projects carried out in schools under the guidance of teachers. These projects are designed to encourage children to think critically and creatively about media. Examples include: Stop-Slow-Go Workshop: Teaching children decision-making skills re...
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  Media Education and media literacy Early childhood education must include media education since it promotes young children's ability to think critically and use media responsibly. The Mannerheim league for child welfare (MLL) defines media education as educating kids how to engage with digital information, recognize advertisements, understand how media affects their emotions and thoughts. The ability to access ,examine ,assess and produce media in a variety of formats is referred to as media literacy .preschoolers must gain a fundamental awareness of digital technologies and be able to distinguish between various media content categories, including photographs, video, and online games. Teaching media literacy in early childhood education Digital literacy is viewed as a crucial component of children's learning experiences in the Finnish National care Curriculum for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC).It inspires teachers to include digital media in ways that foster kid...