Today, for many young people, leadership also means being active on social media. It is a space where causes are shared, collective actions are organised, and narratives about the local area are constructed. However, this visibility, whilst necessary for social change, also carries risks: excessive exposure, cyberattacks, misinformation and impacts on emotional well-being.

It was against this backdrop that ‘Social Media: Yes, but with Care’ was developed – a course from the NextGenC project aimed at young social leaders in Cartagena, Quibdó and Manizales, to strengthen physical, emotional and digital self-care, and provide tools for more mindful and secure communication.

A course designed with care in mind

The process was facilitated by María Andrea García, an expert in emotional health and psychosocial work, and Karen Naundorf, a journalist specialising in media analysis and disinformation. The methodology was participatory and experiential, using the mobile phone not only as a means of communication but also as an object of critical analysis.

The course was structured around three key stages:

• Physical and emotional self-care, to recognise signs of stress, fear or discomfort.
• Visibility, algorithms and digital risks, understanding how platforms work and the implications of exposing oneself on them.
• Digital ethics, rights and disinformation, distinguishing between opinion, verified information and communicative responsibility.

The overarching idea was clear: looking after oneself does not mean withdrawing from the public sphere; it means learning to navigate it more effectively.

The body as the primary tool of leadership

One of the course’s key focuses was recognising the body as the primary territory of protection. Through movement and body awareness, participants identified how stress, tension or silence can serve as warning signs in situations of harassment, violence or insecurity.

This approach helped participants understand that self-care is not merely an individual decision, but a political practice that underpins leadership in complex contexts.

Communication is also an ethical act

‘Social media, yes, but with care’ provided a key lesson for young leaders: communication entails responsibility. Not only for the information shared, but also for one’s own wellbeing and that of communities.

Self-care (physical, emotional and digital) is not an add-on to leadership; it is a prerequisite for sustaining it over time. In a context where social media amplifies both voices and acts of violence, learning to look after oneself is also a way of bringing about change.

If you’d like to find out about some digital self-care recommendations, you can visit this link on our social media.