Here are some examples of things online that might make you feel good or bad. How would each one make you feel?
- Reading unkind comments posted online
- Playing your favourite video game
- Chatting with a family member you can’t see in person
- Seeing a sad news headline online
- Watching a cute video of a puppy
- Getting stuck on a tricky level in a game
- Learning a new dance routine online
- Learning a new skill online
Understanding how being online makes you feel and starting to think about how you can have a better time online is sometimes called looking after your ‘digital wellbeing’.
How can I look after my digital wellbeing?
Your body gives you clues that can help you spot when something online isn’t right – things like feeling like:
- hitting something
- crying
- running away
- stomach pains
- sick
- hot and sweaty
Also, think about the emotions that you are feeling when you are online. Are you feeling happy? Excited? Worried? Stressed?
This might include parents and carers, teachers, club leaders, grandparents or other family members.
There are so many people in your life who are happy to listen to you and help you with any problems that you might be having online.
Don’t keep it to yourself if something online is making you feel bad. Talking to someone will help make you feel better.
Make sure you leave enough time to complete schoolwork or chores, and also do things offline too, such as play with your friends or do some exercise.
Set yourself time limits for being on your devices. You can also use screen time settings to help you with this.
Being resilient means:
- not giving up when things go wrong
- looking for ways to move forward
- being able to bounce back
- working through difficult times
We should be resilient when things go wrong online. One bad experience online doesn’t mean that it’s always going to be bad – don’t let it mean you miss out on all the other amazing things the internet has to offer!
Top Tips
You can be digitally resilient in lots of different ways.
- Turn your device over or off for a bit when something online has made you feel bad
- Get help and support from friends
- Do something different for a bit that will improve your mood
- Find a solution to the problem – for example, you can use the block and report buttons if someone online is upsetting you.
- Always get help from an adult and only go back to your device when you feel ready to.
As part of our work in the UK Safer Internet Centre
Co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility of European Union