What should you do if you receive hateful comments on social media? How can you spot when peer pressure is making you act differently? When is it time for a digital detox?
This January, Childline’s Race to a Milli campaign is helping children and young people find the answers and support they need to look after their mental health when using social media.
We’re calling on professionals across the UK to help us reach even more children and young people with this important message.
Watch the campaign video
About the Childline campaign
The campaign, funded by Lidl GB, shows TikTok stars Makai Fray and Joe Leggett go head-to-head to be the first to achieve one million “likes”.
In Race to a Milli they complete a series of tasks, unaware that they are actually undergoing a digital stress test designed to challenge their resilience. As they tackle things like peer pressure, hateful comments and rage bait, Makai and Joe reflect on their own experiences navigating the mental health challenges of being online.
Alongside our host, Rio Federika from Capital FM, they share resources from Childline to help young people experiencing these challenges online.
How you can help us spread the message
Share the film and start a conversation
We’re asking professionals to show the film to young people in their schools, clubs and organisations and start a conversation about the issues.
Talking points
- Makai and Joe start to get stressed when they receive negative comments about their self-portraits. What should you do if you start getting hateful comments from other people on social media?
- Joe says he would have crumbled if he got negative comments about his dance. Why might peer pressure on social media make someone act differently?
- What things might you do to take a “digital detox” if you need a take a break from the online world?
- Joe says “I’m not very good at anything really” when he thinks Makai beat him at the rap challenge. How might the burden to keep up with trends impact someone’s self-esteem?
- Does being online affect your mental health for better or for worse?
- Where might someone go for advice and support if they were starting to feel anxious about things they were seeing online?
Promote the message on your website, social media or in newsletters
The Race to a Milli campaign content is available to share from Childline’s accounts on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
Signpost young people to Childline for mental health support
Childline is here for young people 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for anything that is worrying them, including mental health.
They can contact a counsellor by 1-2-1 chat, email or call for free on 0800 1111.
You can also share Childline’s advice about how to feel good on social media as well as age-appropriate mental health advice for children under 12.