- Peer pressure and social media are increasingly shaping learners’ behaviour, values and academic performance.
- Guidance and counselling remain critical in helping learners build confidence, resilience and responsible digital habits.
- Parents, teachers and communities must work together to protect young people from negative peer influence.
If peer pressure is the elephant in the room in our schools today, then addressing it requires more than rules and punishment—it demands a team of skilled professionals equipped with guidance and counselling expertise. Parents, teachers, school administrators, religious leaders, policymakers and the wider community must work together with patience, purpose and commitment to confront this growing challenge before it erodes the values, discipline and academic aspirations of our young people.
“Show me your friends, and I will show you your future.”
This timeless proverb captures the profound influence peers have on the choices, values and aspirations of learners. In today’s digital age, peer pressure extends beyond the school compound into learners’ homes through social media platforms, where the desire to fit in, gain approval and attract attention often overshadows education and character development.
The growing influence of peer pressure
Many learners struggle to appreciate their unique backgrounds and circumstances. Instead, they become trapped in constant comparison, seeking validation from peers and online audiences.
The pressure to fit in often drives learners to desire lifestyles, gadgets and experiences beyond their families’ means. Some even persuade their parents that owning expensive mobile phones or maintaining an active online presence is necessary simply to belong.
Social media has amplified this reality. Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X provide valuable opportunities for learning, creativity and communication. However, they can also encourage unhealthy competition and an unhealthy obsession with popularity and online approval.
It is increasingly common to find learners spending countless hours creating content, following online trends and chasing likes while neglecting assignments, revision and personal development. Many return to school after holidays fully conversant with viral social media trends yet unable to complete basic academic tasks.
The role of guidance and counselling
As a member of the Guidance and Counselling Department, I have personally witnessed learners struggle with the overwhelming desire to fit in.
Many battle feelings of inadequacy because they compare themselves with peers whose circumstances differ significantly from their own.
Through mentorship and counselling, I have learned that helping learners appreciate their backgrounds and view them as stepping stones rather than limitations can be transformative.
Encouraging them to focus on their strengths, set realistic goals and embrace their unique journeys has enabled many to regain confidence, improve academically and strengthen their character.
Renowned psychologist Albert Bandura observed that young people learn by observing and imitating others. This underscores the importance of positive role models and responsible peer groups.
When negative influences dominate, learners are more likely to drift towards indiscipline, dishonesty, poor decision-making and declining academic performance.
Using technology responsibly
The effects of excessive and uncontrolled social media use are becoming increasingly evident in schools.
Learners may experience shortened attention spans, poor time management, reduced concentration, cyberbullying, anxiety and declining academic performance.
In extreme cases, the desire for online recognition overshadows the pursuit of meaningful education and character development.
Nevertheless, social media is not inherently harmful.
When used responsibly, it provides learners with opportunities to access research materials, collaborate with peers, develop digital skills and broaden their knowledge.
The challenge is to equip learners with the wisdom, discipline and self-control required to use these platforms constructively.
A shared responsibility
Guidance and counselling remain among the most effective tools for addressing peer pressure and promoting responsible digital citizenship.
Schools should strengthen mentorship programmes, invest in digital literacy education and create safe spaces where learners can openly discuss the challenges they face.
Teachers should receive continuous professional development to help them guide learners on the responsible use of technology and social media.
The Ministry of Education should further strengthen guidance and counselling departments while integrating digital citizenship into school programmes.
Parents also have a vital role to play through open communication, active supervision and positive role modelling.
Equally important is helping children understand that self-worth is not measured by possessions, popularity, followers or online approval.
The Ministry of Education, schools, parents, religious institutions and the wider community must work together to nurture a generation that is confident, disciplined and grounded in strong values.
As Theodore Roosevelt wisely observed, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”
Learners must be taught that success comes not from imitating others but from maximising their own potential and making the best use of the opportunities available to them.
If Kenya is to safeguard the future of its young people, it must intentionally help learners rise above negative peer influence, use social media responsibly and focus on what truly matters—education, character, integrity and purposeful living.
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Guidance and counselling is not merely a school programme; it is a lifeline that shapes resilient, responsible and successful citizens.
For every learner struggling to fit in, the message remains simple but powerful: your background is not your limitation; it is the foundation upon which your future can be built.
By Astiba Kebong’o K. J.
Email: jackiekebongo@gmail.com
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