TOPIC TODAY: Scrolling Through Life: Identity, Anxiety, and the Digital MirrorSocial media is here to stay, but the way we "consume" it determines our survival.• Can Lagos school counselors truly bridge the gap if the home environment remains "Authoritarian"?• How can celebrating diversity in the classroom stop the "standardisation" of beauty and success that social media demands?• The Big Question: If we want a generation that is "Stigma-Free," are we willing to start by being honest about our own mental health struggles in front of our children?
The blue light of Nne’s phone reflects in her eyes as she sighs, finally locking the screen and placing it face down on the wooden table at Evking’s Bar. "My cousin’s daughter just spent three hours editing a photo to look like a 'perceived' version of herself," she says. "By the time she posted it, she was so anxious about the 'likes' that she couldn't even finish eating dinner. She’s scrolling through life, but she’s losing herself in the process." JENNIFER: Adolescence is the ultimate Identity Lab. It’s when kids figure out "Who am I?" and "Where do I fit?" Usually, this happens in classrooms, but now it’s happening on social media. The problem is that social media creates a "Culture of Comparison." When a 14-year-old compares their "behind-the-scenes" life to someone else’s "highlight reel," they don't just feel sad - they experience a distortion of their very identity. NNE: And it’s t...