Feeds and influence
How recommendation systems learn from attention and why feeds can become more intense over time.
Schools · Dublin and across Ireland
Social media safety workshops for schools.
Age-appropriate sessions that help young people understand how social platforms shape what they see, feel and do—and give them practical ways to stay safer, ask for help and remain in control.
Workshop content / 01
More useful than “just spend less time online.”
Screen time alone does not explain whether an online experience is supportive, creative, stressful or unsafe. Waypoint gives students a clearer way to understand what is happening and what to do next.
Pressure and comparison
Likes, streaks, appearance, status and the pressure to stay visible or available.
Privacy and contact
What personal information reveals, who may be on the other side and when contact becomes unsafe.
Harmful content
Bullying, sexualised content, dangerous trends, self-harm content and practical routes to support.
Control and habits
Notifications, night-time use, automatic checking and environmental changes that make stopping easier.
Speaking up
How to preserve evidence, report concerns, support a friend and involve a trusted adult.
Outcomes / 02
Students leave knowing what to notice and what to do.
- Understand how platforms use engagement signals to shape recommendations.
- Recognise when an online experience is affecting sleep, mood, learning, relationships or safety.
- Use privacy, blocking, reporting and feed controls more deliberately.
- Respond more safely when a friend shares something worrying.
- Know when and how to ask a trusted adult for help.
Led by Darren Bracken, former Global Head of Policy Enforcement at TikTok and former integrity operations manager at Meta.
Formats / 03
One message, adapted for the whole school community.
Sessions can stand alone or form part of a coordinated visit so students, staff and parents hear clear, consistent guidance suited to their role.
Student session
Interactive, age-appropriate and grounded in the online situations young people actually face.
Staff briefing
What to notice, what to ask, the limits of the staff role and when safeguarding procedures apply.
Parent evening
Practical boundaries, calmer conversations and ways to respond without closing down trust.
Questions / 04
What schools usually ask.
Can the workshop be tailored to a specific issue?
Yes. Waypoint can build a session around the school’s current concerns, age groups, policies and safeguarding context rather than relying on a generic presentation.
Can students, staff and parents be included?
Yes. Schools can book a single audience or combine student sessions, a staff briefing and a parent evening in one coordinated visit.
Is the content suitable for different ages?
Yes. Language, examples, activities and depth are adapted for the age and developmental stage of the group.
Do you cover AI as well as social media?
Yes. AI-generated content, chatbots, schoolwork, misinformation and privacy can be included where relevant. See the dedicated AI workshops for schools.
Where are sessions available?
Waypoint is based in Dublin and works with schools and organisations across Ireland.
Next step / 05
Tell us what your school is seeing.
We can recommend an existing session or design something around the challenges your students, staff and parents are facing.
Book a conversation