The Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE) has partnered with Common Sense Media, a national leader in digital literacy, to present a free, three-part virtual workshop on the effect that social media and other online platforms have on children and teens’ mental health.

The sessions are scheduled for 5-6 p.m. on Jan. 8, 15, and 22, and will be offered in both English and Spanish. They’re part of a broader yearlong series, Mental Health Workshops for Families, organized by SCOE and community partners to help parents and guardians of Sonoma County students better understand and support youth mental health. Individuals can register at scoe.org/mhw.

“As social media and digital tools weave themselves deeper into our daily routines, the stakes for our children’s well-being continue to rise,” said Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Amie Carter. “Parents and guardians need clear guidance on how online interactions with both peers and adults can affect our students’ mental, physical, and emotional health. These workshops give families the knowledge and confidence to help children navigate the digital world safely and thoughtfully.”

The first session hosted by Common Sense Media will give an overview of the social media landscape and steps adults can take to establish healthy technology habits with children. Online stressors — including cyberbullying, social comparison, and overuse of social media platforms — are the focus of the Jan. 15 offering. The final workshop will take a deeper dive into ways that families can promote mental health and balance in the digital lives of youth.

Across all sessions, attendees will learn about stressors and risks associated with different types of online activity, from social media to online gaming services, as well as gain actionable tools they can take to their families, said Jamie Nunez, the senior manager of outreach and training at Common Sense Media and the presenter of the January workshops.

“At Common Sense Media, we recognize the mental health implications of children’s online habits,” Nunez said. “From social media to AI, kids today are navigating a world completely different from the one we grew up in.

“Our mission is to ensure families and educators have the resources they need to help young people develop safe, healthy habits and thrive on their digital citizenship journey. We are excited to partner with SCOE and provide tools to support their parent and family community.”

Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization focused on improving the digital world for children through advocacy and education. They were a sponsor of Assembly Bill 56, which will require social media platforms to display mental health warning labels to children starting in 2027.

Their catalog of research on how technology impacts children includes an October 2025 publication that found 94% of adolescent boys use social media or play games online every day. Nearly two-thirds said online influencers were a source of inspiration.

About SCOE’s Mental Health Workshops for Families

SCOE, in collaboration with community partners, hosts a series of free, bilingual workshops for families and caregivers around the topic of supporting youth mental health.

January’s series of free workshops will be followed by these sessions to end the school year:

• Feb. 26: Self-Harm, Youth, & Support Strategies (with Kaiser Permanente)
• March 12: Understanding and Supporting Youth With Depression (with West Sonoma County Union High School District and Healdsburg Unified School District)
• April 16: Opioids and Fentanyl in Our Community (with Panaptic)
• May 14: Strategies to Support LGBTQIA+ Youth (with Positive Images)