Screen Time vs. Peace of Mind: Launching Our 2026 Back-to-School Campaign
- WDFA
- Feb 3
- 2 min read
This January, the halls of schools in Abuja buzzed with a different kind of energy. Beyond the usual excitement of new uniforms and textbooks, a vital conversation took place.
Our teams at Digital Rights and Mental Health Initiative Africa (DRMHI) and Women’s Digital Futures Africa (WDFA) officially kicked off the 2026 Back-to-School Mental Health and Digital Well-Being Campaign. The campaign aims to address the mental health and digital well-being of students.
Why Now?
The "back-to-school" season is a whirlwind. For most learners, academic pressure and social expectations collide head-on with an endless stream of digital noise. From exam stress to the subtle sting of social media comparison, young people are navigating a complex landscape that doesn’t turn off when the school bell rings.
A Day with Abuja’s Future Leaders
We spent a full day in interactive sessions with learners, stripping away the jargon to talk honestly about what it actually feels like to grow up online today.
We delved deep into the "Digital Grey Areas":
The Comparison Trap: How algorithms and "perfect" filters quietly erode self-esteem.
The Safety Shield: Practical steps to take when online spaces stop feeling like home.
The AI Influence: Understanding how automated content shapes our beliefs and moods.
The most powerful part of the day was the stories. These young people didn't just listen, they led the conversation, naming the pressures they face and reclaiming their agency in a digital world.
Introducing the "DigiZen"
At the heart of this year’s campaign is a single, powerful concept - The DigiZen.
A DigiZen is a young person who chooses to lead with care, courage, and respect. They don’t just "use" technology; they master it while prioritizing their mental health and looking out for their community.
To turn this concept into action, we are supporting the launch of DigiZen Clubs. These are youth-led spaces (ages 12–25) designed for:
Skill Building: Learning mental health "first aid" and digital safety.
Open Dialogue: Discussing real-life online scenarios in a judgment-free zone.
Local Action: Leading school-wide awareness through assemblies and creative campaigns.
Our 2026 Commitment: Inclusion First
While we are reaching out to all learners, our focus this year is sharpened on two key groups:
Young Girls: Addressing the unique risks of online harassment and Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV).
Underserved Communities: Bridging the gap where digital safety resources and mental health support are often hardest to find.
No young person should have to navigate the digital world alone.
How to Get Involved
The journey is just beginning. Over the coming months, we will be rolling out more clubs, sharing toolkits, and building a network of educators and youth leaders across the continent.
Ready to start a DigiZen Club?
Whether you are a student, teacher, or parent, you can bring this movement to your community.
Let’s connect! If you want to bring the Back-to-School Campaign to your school, reach out to us today. Together, we can raise a generation of young Africans who are informed, confident, and digitally resilient.
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