Hey y’all,

Gonna be honest with you. About a year ago, I realized that my social media use was really weighing on my mental health, so I got rid of all of my accounts (a wild thing to do in the middle of a pandemic when everything’s online).

I know firsthand the toll that social media can have on your self-esteem, and that’s why I’m thankful for the work of DoSomething members across the country to make online spaces a lil more uplifting for the folks they love. Read more about our community’s impact on self-image and mental health below!

(Oh, and make sure you scroll to the bottom of this email to learn how you can help us celebrate our 28th birthday as an organization!)

Let's Do This,

Jackie (she/her)

What’s Not Pictured: DoSomething Members are Sparking a Movement for Authenticity Online While Uplifting Their Friends

Research shows that social media can contribute to negative self-esteem and negative self-image. In fact, 22% of young people reported feeling bad about themselves when nobody comments on or “likes” the photos they post.

Sometimes social media can’t truly capture all the things that make our friends great. That’s why the DoSomething community is supporting their friends’ self-esteem and mental health through our What’s Not Pictured campaign. They’re highlighting the things they love about their friends that folks don’t always get to see online -- and sharing mental health resources to help others struggling.

“She’s one of the most strong (mentally and physically because our girl does Muay Thai boxing on a weekly basis!) and resilient women I know,” DoSomething member Amy, 18, wrote about her best friend in a post. “When life gives her lemons, she’s not only making lemonade, she’s making a whole picnic to go along with it because that’s the type of goes-all-out person she is.”

So far, over 10,000 DoSomething members have signed up to make a difference in their friends’ mental health through this program.

“My friends are always there for me, and it’s easy to forget that they can sometimes second guess themselves and their worth,” says DoSomething member LaNicia, 17. “I want to always remind them that they are some of the most amazing things that have happened to me.”

Take action for your loved ones’ mental health and show the world #WhatsNotPictured!

Be a great LGBTQ+ ally this Pride Month… with the help of our crowdsourced Instagram guide, which we compiled using over 4,400 allyship tips submitted by the DoSomething community.

Calling all educators… join the Zinn Education Project in a day of action on June 12. Pledge to teach the truth about history in the face of legislation that aims to deny it.

This week in Black joy… Simone Biles has now won more U.S. Gymnastics Championships than any other woman in history.

DoSomething Turns 28: Celebrate With Us!

For 28 years now, we’ve given millions of young people like you the tools to improve local communities and create real social change. In that way, we’re celebrating you and your impact this week just as much as we’re celebrating DoSomething. It’s also why we need your help!

Take 2 minutes to tell us what DoSomething means to you. We'll share some of our favorite responses in next week's WYD newsletter and on our social media channels!

Share Your Thoughts

(P.S. If you really want to see how much we’ve grown, take a look at what our website looked like back in 2001.)