Navigating Digital Worlds & Peer Influences—A Research-Based Approach for PSHE

In today’s hyper-connected world, young people face a complex web of digital interactions and peer pressures, making critical media literacy and healthy relationship skills essential components of Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education. This session, “Navigating Digital Worlds & Peer Influences,” is designed to empower students with the tools to critically engage with media, manage online pressures, and build authentic, supportive peer relationships.

Why Focus on Critical Media Literacy and Peer Influence?

Critical Media Literacy (CML) equips students to evaluate the credibility of information, recognise manipulation, and understand the impact of digital content on self-image and mental health. Research consistently demonstrates that CML fosters critical thinking, agency, and resilience in the face of misinformation and online harms.

• Teachers and researchers agree: CML is vital for helping students become empowered, responsible digital citizens, capable of navigating the complexities of online environments and peer interactions.

• Media literacy interventions have shown measurable improvements in students’ knowledge, critical thinking, and behavioral intentions regarding media consumption and response to online pressures.

Evidence-Based Rationale for PSHE

Direct links to PSHE outcomes:

• Online safety: CML helps students recognise and respond to cyberbullying, misinformation, and unhealthy comparison on social media.

• Healthy relationships: Understanding peer pressure and developing strategies for authenticity and boundary-setting are core PSHE objectives, supported by role-play and scenario-based learning.

• Mental health: Discussing the impact of social media on self-image and wellbeing addresses a growing area of concern for adolescents.

Research highlights:

• Integrating CML into the curriculum—not as a standalone topic, but as part of broader language and social studies—enhances both academic and personal growth..

• Effective media literacy education fosters not just knowledge, but also the skills for democratic engagement, empathy, and social transformation.

• Studies show that even short interventions can significantly improve students’ critical engagement with media and their ability to resist peer and media pressures.

Suggested Activities and Content (Research-Informed)

• Social Media & Comparison: Facilitate discussions on how curated online images affect self-esteem and mental health, referencing evidence that such conversations increase awareness and resilience.

• “Fact vs. Filter”: Teach students to distinguish between authentic and manipulated content, using real-world examples to highlight the impact on self-image and trust.

• Cyberbullying Awareness: Explore scenarios and responses, emphasizing the importance of seeking help and supporting peers.

• Peer Pressure & Authenticity: Use role-play to practice assertive communication and decision-making in both online and offline contexts.

• Setting Boundaries: Guide students in developing strategies for managing digital interactions and maintaining personal boundaries.

• Empathy for Others: Expand on empathy-building activities to include online contexts, promoting supportive digital communities.

Conclusion

Navigating Digital Worlds & Peer Influences is a research-backed, evidence-based approach that addresses the real challenges faced by today’s students. By embedding critical media literacy and healthy relationship skills into PSHE, educators can help students become thoughtful, resilient, and empathetic digital citizens—prepared for the demands of both their online and offline worlds.

“Through critical media literacy, students learn about social basics that they will surely need as members of the community.”