SMS Parents Gain Valuable Insights at Social Media Webinar

Parents and members of our school community joined an informative webinar exploring the impact of social media on the lives of young women. The event was hosted by the school and featured expert speaker Dr Kathy Weston, founder of Tooled Up Education.

As social media continues to play an increasingly significant role in young people’s daily lives, the webinar provided an opportunity to examine both its benefits and challenges. Discussions focused on how online platforms influence students academically, socially and emotionally.

Dr Weston highlighted the often-overlooked effects of late-night screen use on sleep quality and academic performance, as well as the complexities of modern friendship dynamics, including issues such as exclusion from group chats and online social pressures. The session also explored the challenges parents face when implementing digital boundaries and parental controls.

A key theme of the evening was the relationship between social media, friendships and mental wellbeing. Parents were encouraged to consider the importance of teaching young people about boundaries, consent and the responsible sharing of images online.

Drawing on her extensive experience, Dr Weston shared practical strategies to help parents foster open and trusting relationships with their children, creating safe spaces for them to discuss digital concerns. She also emphasised the importance of empowering young people to make positive choices online and to take an active role in shaping their own digital experiences.

We would like to thank Dr Weston for delivering such an insightful and thought-provoking session, and we are grateful to all the parents who attended and contributed to the discussion.