A group of about 100 grade 11 pupils gathered for the second annual #MentorTheBoys programme that targets young boys in schools – motivating and guiding them to become the “best men possible”.As a result of the current social environment pupils are exposed to, event organiser and Brown’s PR owner Michelle Brown ensured that the speakers who gathered at the Hellenic Hall on Tuesday, covered a wide range of topics, from business, social media and even self-defence.Magnetic Storm strategic director Jane Stevenson was among the speakers and her topic regarding social media dos and don’ts, seemed to resonate with the pupils.“We often are very naive to think that all these people who are our friends on Facebook care about us,” Stevenson said.A total of 10 schools – represented by 10 boys each – from the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro attended the event, which was sponsored by Vodacom in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber.The focus of Stevenson’s talk centred around personal branding and the impact it has on the individual.She said people talked about each other on social platforms whether one was “in the room or not”, saying things they have heard or seen – regardless of whether it was true or not.“We think that all these people who are our followers on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, care about us. And we think that what we post is real. How much of that which you have not posted – perhaps a photograph – do you want people to see? A brand is a collection of perception in the mind of a consumer.“That means there is a whole thing of perception happening out there about you and we are not even in control of the narrative in the world of social media,” she said.Stevenson told the schoolboys that the “currency” of a personal brand was good behaviour which creates perception.“What people see is 100% what they think. Listen carefully to what a person is saying about other people,” she said.Woolhope High School pupil Xabiso Nzenze was full of praise for the mentoring programme.“It was great. The speakers gave us information we needed to hear as young people and we will utilise it. Social media affects us,” he said.“Sometimes you will find a person posting inappropriate images. But in reality this is not who they are. The talks were informative,” he said.His views were echoed by schoolmate Luyolo Mtshaulana who described the talk as informative and educational.“I have choices to make for the sake of my future. I must refrain from chilling with the people I have been,” he said.The other nine schools which participated are Alexander Road, Andrew Rabie, Booysen Park, Cillié, Douglas Mbopa, Linkside High, Newell High, Otto du Plessis and United Through Sport.