Supporting Young People Online: New BrainWaves Lessons on ‘Wellbeing in a Digital World’
At BrainWaves, our mission is to improve adolescent mental health and wellbeing in schools by bridging the gap between high-level research, and the daily realities of the classroom.
As technology continues to be an ever-present part of young people’s lives, schools need to continue navigating conversations around smartphones, social media, screen time, and online safety.
These topics can feel complex, fast-moving, and difficult to address, which is why we’ve developed a series of free lessons on Wellbeing in a Digital World as part of our wider wellbeing curriculum.
Grounded in the latest research from the University of Oxford, these evidence-informed lessons give teachers the tools to approach these important issues with confidence, whilst giving students practical strategies to build healthier digital habits:
- Protecting your wellbeing in a world of screens (11-14 years)
- Staying safe from harm online (11-14 years)
- Social media and the dangers of perfection (11-14 years)
- Taking control of smartphones (14-16 years)
Helping Young People Navigate the Digital World
Rather than suggesting an outright ban and encouraging students to avoid smartphones altogether, our curriculum helps them understand and navigate the digital world: how digital environments are designed, how online experiences can affect their wellbeing, and what they can do to stay in control.
Designed as part of a spiral curriculum, these lessons can be taught either in progression through the five years of secondary school or as stand-alone lessons throughout the key stages.
Lesson one: Protecting your wellbeing in a world of screens
(For ages 11–14)
Not all screentime is equal, and this lesson helps students understand the difference.
At this age, young people are using screens in a very different way to older teenagers. Students therefore explore how active screen use, such as creating, communicating, or learning, can have more positive effects on their wellbeing, compared with passive scrolling and endless consumption. The lesson also introduces the idea of “displacement”, helping students recognise the dangers of screentime when it replaces activities known to protect mental health, such as sleep, exercise, and spending time with others.
Lesson two: Social media and the dangers of perfection
(For ages 11–14)
Social media can be a great way to connect with others, but it can also create unrealistic expectations and encourage unhealthy comparisons.
In this lesson, students explore why people naturally compare themselves to others and how carefully edited and curated content on social media can distort reality. The lesson encourages students to recognise the impact this can have on their self-esteem and wellbeing, while equipping them with practical strategies to develop a healthier perspective and create a more positive experience on social media.
Lesson three: Staying safe from harm online
(For ages 11–14)
This lesson explores the realities of harmful online content and how young people can respond safely and confidently when they encounter it.
Introduced in a safe and non-frightening way, students learn about the role algorithms can play in exposing them to unwanted or harmful material, even when they are not actively searching for it. They are introduced to a simple framework, Curate and Protect, Block and Report, Get Help Now, which gives them practical actions to take when faced with harmful content online. The lesson concludes with students creating their own online safety plan, encouraging them to reflect on their digital lives and identify personalised strategies for staying safer online.
Lesson four: Taking control of smartphones
(For ages 14–16)
Smartphone apps are deliberately designed to capture and hold our attention, so understanding how they work is the first step towards using them more intentionally.
Drawing on research from the University of Oxford, this lesson explores the motivations behind excessive phone use before introducing practical strategies that help students regain control of their digital habits. Students will learn how to protect the big 3 for wellbeing: sleep, physical activity, and real-life relationships. The lesson focuses on achievable changes such as creating phone-free zones, setting app limits, and adding small amounts of “friction” to reduce endless scrolling.
Evidence-Based Strategies for Lasting Wellbeing
By combining accessible research with engaging classroom activities, the BrainWaves Wellbeing Curriculum equips teachers with the confidence to deliver meaningful, up-to-date lessons while giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to build healthier relationships with technology and protect their wellbeing in a digital world.
To further support teachers, every lesson is accompanied by concise Research Guides that summarise the evidence behind each wellbeing strategy. From creating phone-free zones and reducing passive screen use to improving sleep habits and taking healthy breaks from social media, these guides ensure that every recommendation is grounded in robust psychological research.
To explore the full ‘Wellbeing in a Digital World’ theme and discover more evidence-informed lessons from the BrainWaves Wellbeing Curriculum, please visit here and create an account to access the free lessons: