For families and educators, the New Year presents an opportunity to slow down and think intentionally about what young people need in order to thrive in the year ahead. One of the most meaningful resolutions we can make is to prioritize youth mental wellness. As technology continues to play a central role in young people’s lives, helping them build healthy, balanced relationships with social media is more important than ever. Let’s talk about ways that parents, caregivers, and school communities can promote positive online habits, prevent and address cyberbullying, and support youth in 2026.

Start the Conversation About Cyberbullying

One of the most important steps you can take is simply talking about it. Cyberbullying can be confusing and hard to recognize, especially for young people who may worry about getting in trouble or losing access to their devices. Make space for open, judgment-free conversations about what cyberbullying is, what it can look like, and what behaviour is not okay online.

Talk about different scenarios and answer any questions youth may have: What should they do if they experience something upsetting online? What if they see it happening to someone else? Reassure them that coming to you is the right choice and you will have their back. The goal in these conversations isn’t to lecture, but to build trust and let young people know they’re not alone if they experience or witness cyberbullying.

Create a Plan Before You Need One

Having a clear plan in place can make a stressful situation feel more manageable. Sit down and outline steps to take if online harassment happens. This might include:

• Saving or documenting messages
• Blocking the person involved and minimizing contact with them
• Reporting the behaviour
• Reaching out to a trusted adult or school staff member

It’s also helpful to talk about what not to do if your child or someone they know is being cyberbullied, like retaliating, engaging with hurtful messages, or blaming the person who is targeted. Emphasize that cyberbullying is not the victim’s fault, and they deserve support.

Do a Social Media “Refresh” Together

Now is a perfect time to clean out what no longer serves you, including the content you consume online. Sit down together and review the accounts your child follows, as well as your own following list. Encourage them to unfollow accounts that make them feel bad about themselves or “less than.” You can also share accounts with one another that inspire joy, creativity, and learning. Think of social media as a source for inspiration, not comparison!

This simple activity teaches youth that they can be intentional rather than passive on social media. They can thoughtfully choose the content they want to engage with and protect their mental health in the process.

Model Healthy Screen Habits

Young people learn from what we do in addition to what we say. That’s why modeling healthy screen use as adults is essential. This can look like:

• Balancing time spent online and offline
• Putting phones away during meals
• Avoiding screens before bed
• Being fully present when spending time together

Even small changes, such as turning off notifications when you’re not actively using your phone, can show youth that technology should support their lives rather than take them over.

Try a Family Screen-Time Challenge

Consider taking on a short screen-time challenge, perhaps for a week or a month. Try deciding on a daily limit for phone use (e.g., two hours per day) and sticking to it for a chosen period. You might replace some screen time with shared activities like walks, games, cooking, or creative projects. Research has shown that reducing screen time can have a positive impact on mood, stress levels, and sleep. Doing it together makes it feel supportive rather than punitive.

Regular Check-Ins

Sometimes, all it takes is a quick check-in to become more aware of how your technology habits are affecting your well-being. Make regular check-ins part of your family routine in 2026: How is social media feeling lately? Is anything stressing you out online? What’s been fun or positive? This can help you learn more about your child’s technology use and keep them safe. It can also encourage you to reflect on your own behaviours online and whether they are serving you.

Practice Gratitude Together

We often only see others’ “highlights” online – filtered moments that can make it easy to feel like we’re missing out. Adding a simple gratitude practice can help counter that comparison. This could be making a commitment to journaling once a week or sharing one thing you’re grateful for each day at dinner. Reflecting on what you are grateful for can have positive effects on mental health for people of all ages.

Use and Share Mental Health Resources

Finally, the New Year is a great time to explore new mental health resources together. As a family, take some time to look for tools that all of you can use to promote healthy habits and reduce stigma. We suggest starting with our no-cost Stigma-Free School Program. You can also seek out ways to bring these resources to your child’s school: educators and parents can share the Student Mental Health Toolkit with schools and encourage staff to book a Stigma-Free Presentation. Planning now helps set students up for a mentally healthier 2026 and beyond. By taking small, intentional steps, we can help young people feel safer and more confident navigating the digital world.

References

Canadian Paediatric Society. (2025, June). Screen use and digital media: Advice for parents of school-aged children and teens.

Logan, A. (2022, December 6). Can expressing gratitude improve your mental, physical health? Mayo Clinic Health System.

Pieh, C., Humer, E., Hoenigl, A., Schwab, J., Mayerhofer, D., Dale, R., & Haider, K. (2025). Smartphone screen time reduction improves mental health: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Medicine, 23(1), 107. 

Public Safety Canada. (2024, August 30). What to do if your child is being cyberbullied.