As a kid growing up with the internet, I have a long history of diverse online media experiences.
Many times, I have been warned of the dangers of online media.
Here’s my view: The internet is a vehicle. The internet has not created new issues in and of itself. It has simply allowed already existing views and actions to amplify.
I, like anyone else, have experienced both positive and negative things that couldn’t have happened, or would have looked very different without, the Internet. As a teenager struggling with my mental health, sometimes my internet experiences hurt me. I experienced cyberbullying. I saw flippant youtube comments like “kill yourself” or “he’s so psycho” that made me feel like what I was going through was not understood, or not important. I found a Tumblr community that encouraged me to romanticize how I was feeling and remain unwell. When trying to distance myself from toxic relationships, social media made things difficult.
But it also helped. When I searched at-risk topics on Tumblr, a page popped up asking if I needed help, and provided me with places to go. When I decided to take the first step to get help, mindyourmind helped me figure out who to talk to and how. When I was exploring treatment options, I found some great websites, apps, and communities that helped me cope and let me know I was not alone. When wanting to learn about sensitive topics like whether to use medication or how to avoid self harm, the internet was a great way to talk to someone or get information while still feeling anonymous and safe.
And soon, once again using the internet, I will be able to use my experiences to make a difference in my community. For a long time, I have wanted to make an impact by increasing mental health education and awareness, to help other teens going through what I have. But I struggled to find the funds, and didn’t quite know where to start. BeChange.ca, mindyourmind’s newest and upcoming project, will give me the tools I need to make the change I want to see, and I couldn’t be more excited.
For Media Literacy Week, why not consider “how can I make change?”. The resources are out there. All you need is an idea, and the passion to make it a reality.