The Digital Spin

  Picture: Istock A foundation of social services called Huoltaja-säätiö had their 70 years anniversary. They did a competition for making social services news, reports, journals, etc. seen. Criteria was that texts and other are supposed to be easy to follow and read. Easy communication to civil people about social services, success, research or client stories. Winner was Elina Pekkarinen, lapsiasiavaltuutettu (ombudsman for children). The prize is for doing influencing job for adolescents and children. Information is reliable and justa regular person will understand it. The foundation mentioned they want to give her this award for longterm work to better the position in ife for adolescents and children in life. Pekkarinen is decribed to be given face to social services in the media.  Ombudsman for children will be meeting children to hear their opinion and thoughts. Also they will be advisors for the ombudsman, it is something called Nuone. The instagram site of Elina Pekkari...

When it comes to reaching teenagers and young adults, I would like to think it can be made possible by a blend of creativity and the use of the right platform. Though this might seem like a lot of work, I can tell you that the results can be rewarding. People within these age ranges will mostly be reached on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Snapchat, and that is why these platforms are considered powerful tools of influence for these groups of people. An example of one who has done notable work in areas that concern young people is the Nigerian health and well-being creator, Dr Chinonso Egemba who has now become a trusted voice when it comes to educating young people about their health, fitness, and use of medicine.   He has used the following approach to captivate the attention of his audience, and continues to impact many through these creative ways of passing information;   Relatable content – He simplifies complex medical information by ...

 How can we make social media safer? As social media has become more and more influential a lot of young people spend their time using social media. This also means that problems like bullying or exclusion have spread to social media as well. Nowadays bullying doesn’t happen only in school or hobbies but it can happen in a child's home without the parents even knowing. This has brought the nee d for social workers in social media to help those in need.   There are multiple educated people in social media platforms trying to share information to younger audiences as well as everyone overall . Some examples are laakari.atte and terapeuttiville , who both give information and advice on different topics. Laakari.atte or otherwise known as the doctor Atte has made their social media platforms as informative as possible. He shares stori es that involve substance abuse and addiction. Atte has also shared his own experience with nicotine addiction and warns about the side eff...

  In this digital era, social media is a powerful tool for connecting with young people. Platforms like Tiktok, Instagram, and YouTube are where many young people spend their time, making them perfect spaces for social workers and educators to engage with and support. In this blog, I will explore how social workers can reach young people on social media and share strategies to tackle issues like bullying. Example, Dr. Julie (Psychologist) - Mental Health Influencer : Dr. Julie is a well-known mental health advocate who uses social media to provide support and raise awareness about mental health. Instagram : She shares visually engaging posts on mental health topics like anxiety and self-care, using Instagram Stories to answer followers’ questions in real-time. TikTok : On TikTok, Dr. Julie creates short, easy-to-digest videos on mental health topics, using trending sounds and keywords to reach a broad audience. YouTube : Dr. Julie also shares in-depth content on YouTube, offering ...

  Social media is essential in young people's lives, and utilizing it as a tool for social workers and educators to engage those aged 13 to 25 allows professionals to address issues like mental health, substance abuse, and bullying. Proceeding with a creative approach to reach youth where they mostly dwell: Social Media would foster awareness of mental health initiatives that are helping them to navigate through substance abuse and addiction. The Finnish Red Cross (Suomen Punainen Risti) has taken an innovative step to reach the youth who struggle with anxiety, depression, and stress. They introduced the virtual influencer  Myrsky   on Instagram. The primary objective is to ensure that the youth feel heard, seen, and supported without judgment. They believe this AI approach would create non-judgmental conversations. This creative approach created by Bob The Robot has proven how organizations can adapt to digital trends to reach the youth where they are most comfortable....

  Theme 3 Connecting with young people on  digital media platforms Let’s be real—young people practically live online these days. Whether it’s scrolling through TikTok, chatting on Discord, or creating content on Instagram, digital media is a huge part of their daily lives. If you work with youth, whether as a teacher, social worker, or mentor, meeting them in these digital spaces isn’t just an option anymore—it’s a necessity. But how do you do it in a way that actually works? Meet them where they are First things first: if you want to connect with young people, you have to go where they are. That means understanding the platforms they use and how they interact with content. TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, and Instagram are big, but don’t sleep on platforms like Twitch or Reddit, where communities thrive. Instead of expecting them to come to you, step into their world and see what’s trending. Keep it real The last thing young people want is another adult showing up online trying to...