Designer and new media artist Maria Than collaborated with Year 9 students from Plashet School in the London Borough of Newham to create augmented reality (AR) experiences that explored the complex impact of social media on their lives. The project encouraged students to reflect on the contrast between their personal identities and online personas, offering a platform to critically examine the pressures, opportunities, and challenges of growing up in a digitally connected world.

Students began by using Womp to design 3D assets, embedding a word within each creation that represented how they saw themselves, how they portrayed themselves online, or how they wished to be perceived by others. These assets were then incorporated into posters that visualised their personal versus online identities. Using BlippAR, they brought these posters to life with AR overlays, creating immersive experiences that audiences could access by scanning the designs with their smartphones.

Through this process, students engaged with free digital tools such as Canva, Womp, and BlippAR, gaining valuable skills in digital design and AR creation. However, the project’s significance extended beyond technical learning - it sparked thought-provoking discussions about the dualities of social media. Many students shared their struggles with the constant comparison and unrealistic expectations amplified by online platforms, describing the pressures to conform to curated ideals of success, beauty, and perfection. Others explored how social media can serve as a tool for connection, creativity, and advocacy, highlighting its potential to foster positivity, self-expression, and community in an increasingly challenging world.

By grappling with these dualities, the students revealed the profound impact social media has on their sense of self and their interactions with the world around them. The project became a space for not only creative exploration but also critical dialogue about navigating the complexities of digital life, leaving students with a richer understanding of the intricate relationship between identity and technology in youth culture.