Why Social Media Makes Children’s Behaviour Worse (And How To Help)

Why Social Media Makes Children’s Behaviour Worse (And How To Help)

From School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton by Beacon School Support

March 9, 2026 · 20 min · Season 1 · Episode 268

About this episode

This episode explores how social media impacts children's behaviour and the psychological factors involved.

Why do children sometimes say things online they would never say face to face? In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, you’ll learn why social media can make behaviour escalate so quickly - and why it’s not simply about children being unkind. Drawing on psychology and real-world school experience, we explain how social media and messaging apps remove the natural feedback that helps children regulate their behaviour - and why that’s important. You’ll come away with a brain-based fra...

People in this episode

Hosts: Simon Currigan, Emma Shackleton

Topics covered

  • social media
  • children's behaviour
  • psychology
  • communication
  • feedback mechanisms

Keywords

  • social media
  • children
  • behaviour
  • psychology
  • communication
  • feedback
  • messaging apps

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Beacon School Support

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