From research to the classroom: practical PSHE lessons on social media.

These resources form part of the #So.Me (Social Media) study, a UK Research and Innovation–funded project led by the Manchester Institute of Education. Over the past three years (February 2023 – January 2026), the study has worked closely with young people aged 11–22 to better understand how social media is experienced in everyday life and how these experiences relate to mental health and wellbeing.

As part of this work, #So.Me has developed a new, robust questionnaire to measure young people’s social media experiences, which addresses a significant gap in existing research. Too often, measures (questionnaires that measure experience) relating to young people’s social media use are adapted from addiction research and designed without young people’s input. In contrast, young people have been involved throughout the #So.Me project as both co-researchers and participants, ensuring the measure is grounded in lived experience rather than assumptions. The final measure will be made freely available for national and international researchers to use.

Alongside the development of the measure, the research team has been working with us at Tooled Up Education and other stakeholders (IInternet Matters, Matthew Moss High School, and Dr Joshua Stubbs from the University of York) to translate key findings into practical PSHE resources for Key Stage Three students (ages 11–14). .

The resources respond directly to evidence showing that many young people feel current PSHE does not reflect their digital lives, that existing materials often focus heavily on online harms rather than positive and balanced use, and that teachers can lack the confidence or specialist support to address social media in the classroom. Through workshops with young people and conversations with parents and teachers from a range of UK schools, the research team also identified common challenges, including adults feeling “two steps behind” and tensions between school and home expectations.

The newly released lessons promote a curious, balanced and empowering approach to social media education. Rather than focusing solely on reducing screen time, they encourage young people to reflect on why they use social media, recognise when it stops serving them well, build digital resilience and critical thinking, and feel confident seeking support when needed.

A series of four PSHE lesson plans and classroom activities for Key Stage Three are now available on the Tooled Up Education platform and on the #So.Me Project’s website for schools to explore and test. Feedback from teachers and students during this phase will help shape future PSHE resources on social media.

We’re incredibly proud to be part of this work and to support research that places young people’s voices at the centre, while offering schools practical, evidence-based tools that they can use with confidence.

Are you a teacher in a Tooled Up school?

Did you know we currently have well over 200 PSHE resources on our platform, including lesson plans, staff CPD and classroom activities?