In an era where “logging on” is as routine as brushing your teeth, it is important to prioritize the mental health and digital safety of students. New data from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reveals a striking reality: 80 percent of Utah students aged 12 to 18 spend at least two hours every day immersed in social media, gaming, or texting.

While this connectivity offers unprecedented access to information, it also brings “heavy realities” into the palms of students’ hands, including exposure to graphic world events and misinformation.

The impact of that digital tether was discussed in a recent episode of the Connect Canyons podcast, where district experts—including Mental Health Specialist Lori Hunt, School Psychologist Brandon Segura, and Social Worker Shad Roundy—discussed the shifting landscape of student wellness.

According to the experts, the challenge isn’t just the amount of time spent online, but the nature of the content and its direct impact on mental well-being. “I think what the research is showing is that it is having a negative impact on their mental health,” Hunt noted.

Hunt highlighted that the World Health Organization’s recent mental health campaign focused on “emergencies and crisis,” with an emphasis on learning to manage media consumption. Rather than total avoidance, the goal is intentionality.

“I think the goal isn’t that we’re putting our head in the ground and saying, well, my solution is just not to watch any information,” Hunt explained. “I think it’s to learn how to limit our information.”

For families noticing increased stress or difficulty coping with alarming world events, Hunt suggests practical boundaries—such as limiting screen time at home to 30–60 minutes or creating family plans when everyone agrees to turn off phones at bedtime. Students are being exposed to images that might be harmful and to information that may not be accurate. Hunt emphasized the need for more conversations about helping children access reliable information.

Canyons District promotes the balanced and meaningful use of screentime at school through bell-to-bell cell phone bans, restricted Internet browsing, and digital citizenship lessons woven into regular instruction. The District has focused heavily on teaching digital literacy so that students learn skills to discern fact from fiction or misinformation and disinformation.

Each school has an assigned Digital Citizenship Coordinator who, each October during Digital Citizenship Week, works with schools to make families aware of tools and resources they can use at home.

A majority of Canyons teens, 60 percent, report they have restrictions at home on the type of content they can access online, according to the most recent Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) survey. But students report screentime limits, including time-of-day limits, aren’t always enforced.

Even for parents who limit social media use, students often encounter content through peers. Roundy advocates for a proactive, parent-led approach. For age‑appropriate guidance, the district recommends using resources like Common Sense Media and The Child Mind Institute.

“We can’t be naive to that, and we’ve got to have those conversations and check in with our kids,” Roundy said.

Researchers and child psychologists are increasingly concerned about a phenomenon known as “algorithmic pushing,” where platforms deliver graphic or disturbing content to children who aren’t actively seeking it.

Recent studies highlight several impacts of exposure to images of war or high‑profile violence. A 2025 study by Internet Matters found that 61 percent of children who get news from social media have seen an upsetting story in the last month. Many encounter violence—such as car‑rammings, shootings, or war footage—not by following news accounts, but through algorithmic recommendations or through peers, as in the case of Roundy’s daughter, who saw disturbing images on another student’s phone.

“We can’t be naive to that, and we’ve got to have those conversations and check in with our kids,” Roundy reiterated. “I work with high school students, and they really want to be engaged in the world. They’re forming their own ideas and political ideologies. They challenge adults, and that’s not a bad thing. But they also need help finding balance.”

He noted that teens’ brains are still developing, particularly in areas related to emotional regulation and risk assessment. Adults should approach conversations with curiosity, not dismissiveness, to help teens develop a balanced approach to media.

Approaching media with intentionality is essential as unpredictable or excessive media use can increase stress, he says, noting parents should ask their children: “What are we going to the media for?”

To help students who feel overwhelmed by what they’ve seen online, Roundy recommends encouraging teens to become active in their communities.

“Encourage your teens to find ways to be active. If we’re seeing things and feel powerless, we can become apathetic, Roundy says. “But there’s always something we can do—we can donate to causes, sign petitions, join a community, or peacefully protest. There are many ways to make a difference.”

Brandon Segura recommends focusing on balance outside the digital world as well. “When we’re talking about mental health, I want to include the holistic approach—exercise, eating right, all those things come into play,” he says. “If we’re not taking care of those areas, doomscrolling and excessive online time can have an even greater negative impact.”

One bright spot from the SHARP survey is a marked decline since 2021 in self-reported anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among teens. This could be a sign of healing from the trauma of the pandemic, and a sign that ramped up school supports are making a difference, says Dr. Brian McGill, Director of CSD’s Student Wellness Services Department.

If doomscrolling or digital overload becomes too heavy, the Canyons Family Center offers classes and support groups for individuals and parents. They have crisis counselors available and the District sponsors regular mental health screening nights where families can get referrals for professional counseling. The District also makes a ton of helpful information available online to assist parents in having digital safety and wellness conversations at home.