I’m a high school junior. Before I graduate I’d really like to see California formally integrate digital wellness into existing health education classes, writes Elise Choi, a student at the Orange County School of the Arts and policy director for GENup, a youth-led education advocacy organization, in an EdSource essay.
Nearly all California youth (94%) in a recent survey said they were experiencing mental health challenges. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that schools can help “reverse the trend” through education. In 2021, California passed a law mandating mental health instruction in middle and high schools. Instruction includes recognizing warning signs, symptoms of mental health conditions, available treatments and coping skills. What’s missing is the digital piece.
Just as we teach about alcohol, drugs, nutrition, and sex, we need to talk about the harms encountered in the digital world. My generation is growing up in that world.
California has passed important laws regulating technology (chatbots, social media and school cellphone use), but we also need practical skills, like:
- Understanding that apps are designed to capture our attention and how to set boundaries
- Learning how late-night scrolling affects sleep, energy and brain development
- Talking about social comparison and how online media influences self-image
- Managing group chats, online conflict and FOMO (fear of missing out)
- Understanding how algorithms, AI and synthetic media (e.g, deepfakes) work and how to verify information
- Adopting healthy screen time habits
The American Psychological Association’s 2025 advisory recommended comprehensive AI literacy education to prevent online exploitation, manipulation and harm to youth. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General urged policymakers to “support the development, implementation and evaluation of digital and media literacy curricula in schools” to support general student well-being.
I’m currently on day 45 of a self-imposed social media fast (no TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram or YouTube). Not surprisingly, I’ve been able to study without constantly checking my phone and complete all my assignments in half the time. What I was not expecting, however, was that I would feel noticeably calmer, be more present in every conversation, feel more grounded because I have time to think in silence, and tolerate boredom.
I love technology. But we must be mindful of its effects and set boundaries. What I hope for is a culture shift in how we interact with media and technology, and for students to become critical thinkers rather than mindless consumers.
California, home to many of the world’s biggest and most powerful social media and AI companies, has a unique responsibility to set the standard for digital wellness education. And honestly, it seems like a no-brainer.
EdSource
