"Beyond the Likes" Youth Forum: What Social Media Isn’t Showing Us

Illustrated by Chelsea E., a BRITE intern from Oxnard College.

Written by Eileen Parnami & Mia Hernandez, BRITE Youth Advocates.

Edited by Estrella Torres, BRITE Youth & Community Development Specialist.

Our BRITE Futures Initiative team invited BFI Youth Coalition members and Ventura County youth advocates, Eileen Parnami and Mia Hernandez, to attend a national virtual youth forum, Beyond the Likes - Social Media, Mental Health & You, hosted by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The forum brought together youth from across the country to explore how social media impacts mental health, empower youth to navigate the digital world with confidence, and build overall healthy digital habits. Below you will read about our youth advocates’ experience attending the forum and what they learned throughout the process.

Eileen Parnami begins by reflecting on how this event changed her attitude and perspective on how social media affects young people, explaining, “It’s easy to forget how much of our lives now exist on a screen, until you pause long enough to question what it’s doing to you. For me, that moment came at the Beyond the Likes: Social Media, Mental Health & You youth forum. Along with more than 60 other students from all over the country, I stepped into a forum where we were questioning, reflecting, and really understanding how social media shapes who we are.” 

Mia Hernandez continues in this line of thought detailing one way that social media draws in young people and causes harm, writing, “The forum really opened my eyes to how social media is basically a system made to keep us scrolling, so it makes sense why it's so easy to get hooked. I liked the funhouse mirror idea because it reminds me that my feed is just a reflection of what I click on and not the whole truth.” 

Eileen then describes the moment she had a very similar realization to Mia's, writing, “During a breakout session on AI and its effects, it finally clicked for me: the media we see online aren't random. Every post, every video, is carefully designed to keep us glued to our screens. That realization made me rethink how they add up, slowly shaping how we see ourselves and the world around us. The guest speakers Laura Leone, Doug Fagen, and Dr. Alyssa Cohen gave some real insight, especially when they explained how algorithms and AI control what fills our feeds and, whether we like it or not, influence how we feel.”

One way this social media algorithm negatively affects young people in their daily lives is exposed when both Mia and Eileen share similar personal experiences. “One of the biggest things I learned was that where attention goes energy flows, and it made me realize I waste way too much energy comparing myself to people or looking at sad memes,” says Mia. “I realized how similar our online struggles are, even if we don’t always talk about them. Youth opened up about peer pressure, endless searches for validation, and constant comparison. Social media can make you feel alone with these worries, but at the forum, I saw how common they really are,” says Eileen as she relates to feelings and struggles of comparison just like Mia and other peers attending the forum.

Mia reflects on how this forum has influenced her to be more thoughtful and aware of her social media use moving forward: “I want to be more careful with my digital footprint and remember it's okay to struggle or ask for help when things feel heavy. I'm going to try setting time limits and moving my phone to a different room so I can actually relax with music or reading instead. I also liked the ‘rule of small’ because it makes things feel easier to handle, like getting a real alarm clock so I don't use my phone first thing in the morning. It was nice to see how social media actually gave me the confidence to join the forum but now I have better ways to make sure it's helping me and not dragging me down.”

Eileen concludes that the forum made her want to be more intentional with social media while also fueling her efforts, passions, and aspirations in healthcare: “I walked away challenged and a little more aware of how I use social media and why it matters to be intentional about it. The whole experience deepened my interest in adolescent health. As someone hoping to pursue a career in healthcare someday, I’m learning that helping people isn’t just about how our bodies function but it’s about paying attention to all the things, digital included, that can impact how someone thinks or feels. The forum also pushed me to actually take another step towards growing my program. Through Stemora, my own initiative, and my role in leadership, I want to bring these honest conversations to my community. If we create safe places where students can talk openly about mental health and social media, maybe we can start building healthier habits together. Even small changes in how we think about this topic can make a real difference.”

Overall, the Beyond the Likes youth forum was a reminder to Eileen that “social media usually shows the highlight reel, not the whole story. If we keep these conversations going and really listen to each other, there’s a chance to build a digital world that’s a bit more honest and a lot more supportive.”

Check out Stemora, Eileen's initiative to give students access to meaningful STEM, health, and advocacy opportunities here: stemoraprogram.lovable.app.

To learn more about our BRITE Futures Initiative and to join our Youth Coalition, visit www.briteyouth.org/bfi. To learn more about our BRITE volunteer opportunities, visit www.briteyouth.org/engagementopportunities.