The Algorithm Knows What Makes You Feel Bad
TARGET:
12-15 years
INTENSITY:
25 min / 2x per week
LEARNING GOAL
Developing Emotional Awareness When Interacting with Others
PEDAGOGICAL INTENTION
Identifying My Emotions When Interacting with Others
Target SKILLS
Socio-emotional Intelligence
Co-Intelligence Human-Human
Critical Thinking
Agency and Autonomy
MATERIALS
Social media emotional audit (2 weeks)
Platform-emotion mapping tool
DETAILED PROCEDURE
This activity works best one-on-one, or with one child at a time within a small group. Explain calmly to the child: "Social media platforms are designed by behavioral scientists to trigger specific emotional responses - comparison, FOMO, validation-seeking - because emotional activation keeps you engaged. You are not broken for feeling these things. You are the target."
Step 1
Have students conduct a 2-week emotional audit: what emotions do different platforms, accounts, and interactions generate?
Step 2
Analyze: which accounts consistently make you feel worse? Which genuinely connect you or inspire?
Step 3
Say gently to the child: "The most powerful thing you can do is use social media intentionally - deciding how it serves you - rather than letting it decide how you feel."
Step 4
Design a personalized social media use protocol based on emotional audit findings.
Step 5
Step 6
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Step 8
Step 9
Step 10
PROGRESS INDICATORS
The child completes a 2-week emotional audit with specificity.
The child identifies 3 specific accounts/interactions that consistently harm their emotional state.
The child designs and implements a personal social media protocol.