Hi, I'm Ms. Lowe, and I'm your RSHE teacher for today.

Thank you so much for choosing to complete your learning with me.

Today's lesson is all about what healthy internet use looks like.

And because of some of the themes and topics that we're gonna cover together in today's lesson, you should complete your learning today with the company of an adult.

And here's our outcome for today's lesson.

So by the end of today, you will be able to describe healthy online activity and explain how the internet can connect people.

Every RSHE lesson should begin with a set of ground rules.

This ensures that every conversation had in RSHE is respectful and we're all able to learn effectively.

So Laura is reminding us that in RSHE, we should listen to others.

It's okay to disagree with each other, but we should listen properly before making assumptions or deciding how to respond.

And when disagreeing, we challenge the statement and not the person.

Andeep is reminding us to respect privacy.

We can discuss examples, but we don't use names or descriptions that can identify anyone, including ourselves.

Izzy is reminding us to choose a level of participation that suits us.

Everyone has the right to choose not to answer a question or to join in a discussion, but we never put anyone on the spot.

And finally, Jacob is reminding us that in RSHE, there is no judgement.

We can explore beliefs and misunderstandings about a topic without the fear of being judged.

And here are our keywords.

Let's go through these definitions together.

Socialise, to talk or spend time with friends, family, or new people.

Balance, having good health in all aspects of your life.

And unhealthy, something that is harmful to our health.

Let's have a look now at what we're gonna be learning about today.

So we're gonna begin today's lesson by asking the question, are there unhealthy ways to use the internet? Now, the internet can be a fantastic space.

It's a place where we can explore lots of different interests and hobbies, and it can be a great place for entertainment, learning, and working.

On the internet, we can socialise, we can talk with our friends, with our family, and with our loved ones from all over the world.

We can join different communities.

We can talk with people who have shared interests with us, similar hobbies or passions.

We can learn.

It can be a place where we can learn about people from all over the world.

It can be a place where we can educate ourselves.

And it's a place where we can work.

People can find lots of meaningful and fulfilling jobs on the internet.

And finally, it's a place where we can play.

It's a place where we can find entertainment.

But Lucas is reminding us of something really important here.

He's saying that even though using the internet can be fun, it's important to have balance when we are online.

Now, balance is really important when we're using the internet because there are several unhealthy ways in which people can use and interact with online spaces.

And this includes doomscrolling, echo chambers, falling into a comparison trap, engaging in toxic behaviour, procrastinating, and even becoming addicted.

Now, we're gonna look through these unhealthy ways to use the internet in a bit more detail together.

So let's begin by having a look at doomscrolling.

So Ethan is describing the way that he uses the internet, and he says sometimes he sits on his phone and reads posts and watches videos for hours.

The time just gets away from him, and he feels like he can't stop.

So what Ethan is describing here is doomscrolling, and this involves consuming large amounts of media online.

After engaging in doomscrolling, people can start to feel anxious or upset because of the information that they've consumed.

They might engage with one negative post and then fall down a bit of a rabbit hole and feel like they can't stop looking at posts, articles, or images online.

And the time just gets away from them, and it can lead to these negative feelings.

To maintain balance, what we can do is we can limit our screen time and pay attention to how you feel.

If what you're reading is starting to make you feel bad, that's a sign that it's time to put your device away.

Another unhealthy way of using the internet is falling into what we call an echo chamber.

So an echo chamber is where people online will only see the views that echo their own opinion.

This means that if someone already holds a harmful view, the algorithm on social media will promote content that supports that view.

It's important to remember that an algorithm can't tell the difference between a good post and a bad post.

It is designed to show users more content that they have engaged with previously.

So the algorithm, if somebody holds a harmful or negative view, the algorithm is just going to present them with more and more content like that.

Therefore, if someone's in an echo chamber, they rarely ever see the other side of an argument.

And David is telling us here that in order to keep balance, he makes sure that he researches any points of view that he sees online.

Now, we're gonna pause here and we're gonna check our understanding.

So true or false? There is no healthy way to use the internet.

Pause the video, have a little think, and then we'll go through the right answer together.

Well done if you said false.

But how do we know that this is false? Well, there are healthy ways to use the internet, but it does require balance as some experiences that we have online can be unhealthy.

Well done again if you said false.

Now let's have a look in a bit more detail at comparison traps.

So Chloe is describing her experiences online.

She says, "All I see on social media is women with perfect bodies and skin, and it makes me wish that I looked like that." So what Chloe's fallen into here is a comparison trap.

Falling into a comparison trap online can lead people to developing a negative image of their body and the way that they look.

Now, in order to keep balance here, it's important again to limit your time on social media and limit the amount of time that you engage with content that promotes negative feelings about yourself.

Instead, try to engage with content that promotes body positivity and realistic appearances.

Another unhealthy way to use the internet is toxic behaviour or engaging in toxic behaviour.

Now, some sites online and online spaces can allow toxic behaviour and bullying to thrive.

Sofia's saying here that she doesn't engage in toxic behaviour online, but even seeing it can be quite upsetting.

Now, in order to keep balance here, we should try and avoid sites or spaces where toxic behaviour is the norm, where lots of people are doing it.

And also, if you ever witness harmful or toxic behaviour online, you should always report it to the site and tell a trusted adult.

Remember, it's everybody's responsibility to keep the internet a safe and enjoyable space.

So if we witness harmful or toxic behaviour, it's our responsibility to stand up to it, report it, and speak to somebody about it.

Next, we have procrastination.

So Ethan again is describing his online experience.

He says, "Sometimes I sit for hours online when I should really be doing revision or homework.

I'm not doing anything in particular, I'm just putting off doing my work." So this is an example of procrastination.

So what procrastination means is to put off doing something else.

So in Ethan's case, this is scrolling on social media instead of doing his homework.

Now, in this scenario, to keep balance, again, it's important to have those limits set on your time online and to only use the internet for entertainment purposes if other more important tasks and responsibilities are done first.

And then we have online addiction.

So online addiction is when a person develops a compulsive need to use the internet or visit online spaces.

Online addiction can be really harmful because it can stop people fulfilling their day-to-day responsibilities and therefore have a serious negative effect on them and their lives.

If somebody is experiencing online addiction, a way to maintain balance is to use the internet purposefully.

So that means making sure that whenever we are opening our phones, going on a laptop or a tablet to scroll on the internet, we are doing it for a reason.

We're not just mindlessly scrolling and consuming content passively.

Another way to maintain balance is to set daily limits on internet use and ensure that you are getting enough time offline doing other activities that we enjoy.

Now, as I mentioned before, online addiction can have a harmful effect on a person's life.

And these effects are impaired sleep, so that can be trouble getting to sleep or difficulty having a high-quality sleep.

It can cause a lack of focus, and in turn, that can cause poor job or school performance.

It can cause difficulty in maintaining relationships, problems with eyesight, and even mental health conditions, like depression or anxiety.

So as you can see, online addiction can have a serious effect on a person.

To avoid the negative effects of unhealthy internet usage, it's important that we get enough sleep, exercise, in-person socialising, and offline joy in our lives.

Now, we're gonna pause here again and we're gonna check our understanding.

So which of the following is an unhealthy way to use the internet? We have socialising with friends who live far away, putting off other jobs to spend time online, and using the internet to help with homework.

Read through those options again, pause the video, and then we'll go through the correct answer together.

Well done if you said B.

Yes, putting off other jobs to spend time online, and there is an extra well done if you said that B relates to procrastination, putting off important jobs to do something else.

Now we're gonna put all that learning into practise.

So you've got two tasks here.

Firstly, I would like for you to look at what Ethan is saying and tell me which unhealthy way of using the internet is Ethan engaging in.

And then I'd like you to give him three pieces of advice about how to find more balance online.

Pause the video, write down your answer, and then we'll talk about some things that you might have said together.

Excellent work there.

So let's go through what you might have said.

So, based on what you read that Ethan was saying and the way that he was using the internet, your answer should include that Ethan is procrastinating.

He's putting off one job to use the internet.

And then you were asked to give him three pieces of advice about how to find more balance online.

Your answers could include that he should limit his time on social media.

He should pay attention to how he feels while online.

If it's starting to make him feel bad, that he should put his device away.

And you might have also said that he should only use the internet if his other jobs and responsibilities are completed first.

Now we're moving on to the second part of our lesson where we're asking the question, how can the internet connect people? So the internet is amazing because what it does is it allows people from all over the world to connect with each other.

In the past, we would have probably only connected with and socialised with people who we knew or saw regularly.

However, online spaces allow us to connect with others that we might not have connected with before, whether that's our friends or people who share similar interests to us.

Now, although the internet is a great space for connection, we do have to be careful about who it is that we are connecting with online.

And the reason for this is we can't be sure of the motivations of everyone online, so it's important that we do not communicate with online strangers.

We should also check with a trusted adult before joining any online communities.

And if we do this, we can better ensure our safety and our happiness online.

Now, one of the ways that the internet can connect us with other people is through online communities.

Some online spaces create communities for people who are going through similar experiences or struggles.

Megan is talking about her experience with this.

She says that she's a young carer.

She interacts with people that she knows from her in-person young carers meeting through their messaging channels.

It's been really helpful because it allows her to connect with others in a similar situation.

Another way that the internet can connect people is by providing them with the information that they need.

Chloe says, "At first, I found it really hard to talk about how I was feeling, but I used trusted sites, like the NHS, which allowed me to talk to a professional online who I knew was there to help me.

It was really useful as I could talk about my feelings, and they gave me lots of online resources about how to look after myself." Now we're gonna pause here and we're gonna check our understanding.

So I would like you to complete the sentence on the screen.

It currently says, the internet can connect people with others going through the same blank.

Pause the video, have a think about what the missing word is, and then we'll go through the correct answer together.

Well done if you said experience.

Yeah, and we saw that through Megan's example.

She said that she's a young carer, and the internet allows her to connect with others who are also young carers, and they can discuss their experiences online together.

The internet is also a great way to help people connect, particularly those who live in remote or rural areas, because it can enable them to socialise through social media or online messaging.

Dr.

Elsie says, "The internet can also allow patients in hospitals or care homes to keep in touch with loved ones who live far away and can't visit often.

This helps patients to feel connection with others even if they can't regularly see them face to face." The internet can also help people to feel empowered.

Now, Isaac is describing his experience here.

He says, "Struggling with mental health has been difficult, but I have used social media to raise awareness.

It's been empowering to share my story online, and I hope it empowers other people to seek help if they need it." Now, we're gonna pause here and we're gonna check our understanding again.

So what is missing from the list of some of the ways that the internet can help connect people? I want you to read through that list and think about what might be missing.

And I'll give you a clue, there are two points missing from this list.

Really well done if you said that feeling empowered and providing important information were missing from the list.

Well done.

Now, even though the internet is a great way to connect us with others, it's still important to have a balanced approach to using the internet.

In-person connections that we have with others and socialising are important, and they're a healthy part of our lives, and there are ways that we can use the internet that can make this easier.

So Megan is saying that through her online community for young carers, she's "found out about some local school holiday events for others in the same position as me.

I find these events really helpful to socialise with others just like me." So rather than thinking of the internet as a place where all our socialising and connections happen, we can think of it as a tool to help us socialise and create connections in person easier.

And we're gonna pause, and we're gonna check our understanding again.

So true or false? The internet is the only way to connect with others.

Pause the video, have a quick think about whether that statement is true or false, and we'll go through the right answer together.

Really well done if you said false.

But why is this false? Well, the internet can connect people with others by sharing their experiences.

However, it can also allow them to find socialising opportunities in person, which can allow them to connect with others.

Well done if you got that answer correct.

Now we are gonna put our learning into practise.

So what I want you to do first of all is I would like you to add to the image four or five ways that the internet can connect people.

And after you've done that, I'd like you to explain the importance of balancing online and in-person connection.

So pause the video, write down your answers, and then we'll go through what you might have said in just a moment.

Excellent work.

Let's go through what you might have said.

So you were first asked to add to the image four or five ways that the internet can connect people.

And you might have said it can help people to feel less isolated.

It can help people to find a community.

It can help to make people feel empowered.

It can provide opportunities to socialise.

And people can find access to important information and services.

Well done if you mentioned any of those things in your answers.

Next, you were asked to explain the importance of balancing online and in-person connection.

So you might have said: Although the internet is a great way to connect, we should still try to find balance with our time online.

In-person connections and socialising offline are a healthy way for us to build connection.

The internet can be a tool to make in-person connection easier.

For example, researching local community meetings for people who have shared interests.

Well done if you mentioned any of those things in your answer.

Now we're gonna end today's lesson with a summary of what we've learned.

So the internet can be a really useful tool, but there are positives and negatives to using the internet.

Due to the positives of internet use, it can form part of a balanced and healthy lifestyle alongside happiness, sleep, socialising, exercise, and learning.

But there are unhealthy ways to use the internet, and this includes doomscrolling, procrastination, and online addiction.

To avoid this, we should try to limit screen time and only use the internet if other responsibilities are prioritised.

The internet can provide people with opportunities to connect with others.

For instance, by sharing experiences, finding solidarity with others, or through keeping contact with people who live far away.

Now, if any of the topics or things that we've discussed today affect you or you are concerned in any way, here are some places you can go to access support.

So first, we have Childline, a website and phone line which is able to offer confidential advice and support, CEOP, which helps protect children from online abuse and exploitation, and Internet Matters, which teaches children and parents how to stay safe and happy online while using the internet.

And I'd like to end today's lesson by saying a huge well done for all the fantastic learning that you've done today, and I look forward to seeing you in another RSHE lesson soon.