Social Media is Not the Bad Guy
Wed Feb 04 2026
Social media gets blamed for a lot—but is it really the bad guy? In this episode, we’re talking honestly about how social media shows up in students’ lives and why it’s not as simple as labeling it “good” or “bad.” While it can spark creativity, connection and self-expression, it can also bring pressure, comparison and the feeling of always needing to be scrolling.
To help us unpack all of this, we’re joined by Dr. Anna Heinbuch from LACOE’s Mental Health and School Counseling Unit and Melissa Gillespie, a school counselor from Las Virgenes Unified School District and the 2025 L.A. County School Counselor of the Year. Together, they share what they’re seeing on school campuses, how they’re using social media in positive ways with students and what actually helps when kids start feeling overwhelmed or stuck in comparison mode.
We talk about recognizing the signs of social media stress, having real conversations with students about boundaries and balance, and how educators and families can guide young people toward healthier digital habits without fear, shame or doom scrolling.
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About Let Me Add to That: An Education Podcast
Nearly 2 million students and 80 school districts make up the Los Angeles County education system – as you can imagine, the experiences, the success and the challenges vary from district to district as it does student to student. The Let Me Add to That Podcast, presented by the Los Angeles Office of Education will feature education experts including superintendents, administrators, teachers and students themselves who will highlight various hot topics that the county faces on a day-to-day basis. Let Me Add to That is titled and modeled after the inclusion of different perspectives, experiences and challenges. New episodes will be released on the first Wednesday of every month.
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Social media gets blamed for a lot—but is it really the bad guy? In this episode, we’re talking honestly about how social media shows up in students’ lives and why it’s not as simple as labeling it “good” or “bad.” While it can spark creativity, connection and self-expression, it can also bring pressure, comparison and the feeling of always needing to be scrolling. To help us unpack all of this, we’re joined by Dr. Anna Heinbuch from LACOE’s Mental Health and School Counseling Unit and Melissa Gillespie, a school counselor from Las Virgenes Unified School District and the 2025 L.A. County School Counselor of the Year. Together, they share what they’re seeing on school campuses, how they’re using social media in positive ways with students and what actually helps when kids start feeling overwhelmed or stuck in comparison mode. We talk about recognizing the signs of social media stress, having real conversations with students about boundaries and balance, and how educators and families can guide young people toward healthier digital habits without fear, shame or doom scrolling. --- About Let Me Add to That: An Education Podcast Nearly 2 million students and 80 school districts make up the Los Angeles County education system – as you can imagine, the experiences, the success and the challenges vary from district to district as it does student to student. The Let Me Add to That Podcast, presented by the Los Angeles Office of Education will feature education experts including superintendents, administrators, teachers and students themselves who will highlight various hot topics that the county faces on a day-to-day basis. Let Me Add to That is titled and modeled after the inclusion of different perspectives, experiences and challenges. New episodes will be released on the first Wednesday of every month. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.