Use of social media and digital technology by children and young people has increased over the past decade. At the same time, mental health disorders are on the rise with recent NHS data showing that 1 in 8 children and young people aged between 5-19 in England have at least one mental health disorder. However, there is no conclusive evidence of a causal link between the increase in the use of social media and the decline in children and young people’s mental health.
From our experience of working with the UK’s most vulnerable children we understand that accessing the internet in a safe, appropriate way is important for children and young people. It can be a positive opportunity to learn, to keep in touch with friends and family and to have fun. However, we are also aware that internet use can also expose them to many dangers, such as cyberbullying, online grooming and sexual abuse. Working with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Knife Crime, we know that gangs use social media to recruit vulnerable children who are often forced to carry knives, traffic drugs and commit other criminal offences. Recent studies examining the link between social media and children and young people’s mental health do not generally consider the impact on the most vulnerable children.
Therefore the aim of this report is to both understand what children, young people and practitioners have to say about the impact of social media on mental health and wellbeing and to shed light on the social media experiences of vulnerable children.
Keywords: Mental health; social media
