COS Challenge to Change | City of Colorado Springs

Accept the Challenge!
7 Day Social Media Break

The Issues

Local school districts are seeing a rise in negative behavior on social media including threats, rumors and bullying
Parents have little understanding of the impacts and trends of social media
Kids' reliance on social media has increased during the isolation of COVID-19, while mental health resources have decreased

The Challenge

We are challenging parents and students alike to take the challenge to reduce or forgo social media for 7 days to:
Find out about social media impacts
Learn better habits
Improve your life
#COSChallenge2Change

Download the "I Accepted the Challenge" graphics or profile frame and share to your social media accounts with the #COSChallenge2Change.
Download campaign graphics

Social Media Tips

Healthy Habits - Take Control of Social Media

Establish set times for social media use - and stick to your limits.
Keep phones and other digital devices out of the bedroom at night.
Social media evolves quickly. Learn the newest app, and sign up for an account (yes, even TikTok).
Know what your child is doing online using a monitoring service, or connecting with their social media directly.
Talk about it. Engage your child in a conversation about what's happening in their social media life.

Social Media Red Flags

Following or engaging with accountspretending to be a school system orother fraudulent account.
Engaging in risky or illegal behaviorbecause of a social media "challenge."
Becoming overly concerned over likesor followers, to the detriment of otheractivities.
Interacting with people who are notknown to you in real life (IRL).

Social Media Conduct that may be Illegal Behavior

Making threats to a person or place.
Posting or sharing images that arepornographic, especially if of a minor.
Planning violence, such as a fight.
Encouraging illegal or dangerousbehavior in others.
Posing as or pretending to represent a private or governmental entity, yes,even if it's meant to be funny.

Social Media Do's and Don'ts

DO REPORT: Threats of violence,pornographic imagery or cyberbullying toa school resource officer, or Safe2Tell.
DON'T SPREAD RUMORS: Do not forwardor re-post threats, pornographic imageryor cyberbullying.
DO UNFOLLOW: Fake or parodyaccounts falsely representing schooldistricts or individuals.
DON'T: Friend people you don't know IRL.

Analog Activites for your 7-day Social Media Break

Visit one of our incredible parks!
Try a new recipe
Call a relative, or a long-distance friend
Sign up for a sports league, or start a neighborhood pickup game
Play a board game
Start a journal
Go on a photo hunt inside or out!

Community Forum

Safe2Tell Colorado

Anonymously report anything that concerns or threatens you, your friends, your family or your community. Make a report. Make a difference.

safe2tell.org
1-877-542-7233

Educational Resources

A City Bold Enough to Challenge Change

The Challenge to Change is a multi-agency response to crises among youth in Colorado Springs. While these issues are not unique to Colorado Springs, we want to be the first City to stand up and address them head on. By aligning credible, impactful organizations, we will reach parents and students alike with resources, support and education.