What is the impact of social media on children and young people's mental health?
Social media has fast become a part of everyday life with many of us now seeing it entering our children’s routines. While it offers benefits, social media can also present challenges that we’re becoming more aware of to young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
The National Parent Survey found that around 44% of parents are concerned about the amount of time their children spend on electronic devices. Recent statistics show that 38% of primary school aged children spend at least three hours per day on a digital device such as a smartphone or tablet.
Steps are being taken to reduce smartphone use in children, such as guidelines published in February 2024 by the government, prohibiting use in schools, as well as parent-lead initiatives such as Smartphone Free Childhood. There’s an ongoing conversation about whether children under 16 should have access to smartphones, but what can parents do to manage risk for children who are already on social media? What are the dangers to look out for while making sure children still benefit from the positive aspects of technology? This article aims to provide some insight to those parents looking for answers.
What this article covers
The negative impact of social media
There are a variety of ways smartphone and social media use can be impacting your child, both internally and externally. Below are some researched examples to look out for and work with your child to prevent.
Depression and anxiety
A study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that social media use can lead to negative social comparison, resulting in lower self-esteem and increased risk of mental health problems among adolescents. The chances of a young person being impacted were increased the more time they spent online. It was also found that those who owned a smartphone at a later age have better overall mental wellbeing than their peers.
Sleep disruption
Research by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) suggests that screen time, particularly before bed, disrupts sleep patterns, impacting mood and cognitive function throughout the day. The National Parent Survey found that more than a third of parents felt their child was missing out on sleep because they were spending too much time on screens. This is supported by a study by researchers at King’s College London, who found that one in four young adults have a behavioural addiction to smartphones.
Exposure to harmful content
The National Parent Survey found that 21% of parents were concerned about their children accessing harmful or inappropriate content online, and they had good reason. Most concerningly, research has found that children are exposed to this content without seeking it out, with 90% of girls and 50% of boys saying they’ve been sent explicit content they didn’t want to see. The Children’s Commissioner found that 40% of English children have seen harmful content online including images of self-harm and suicide.
Grooming
Experts have discovered more child sexual abuse imagery online than ever before, with a 66% rise in ‘self-generated’ sexual abuse imagery of children under 10 since 2022. The NSPCC found that 19% of children, aged 10-15 years-old, exchanged messages with someone online who they never met.
Cyberbullying
According to Ofcom's 2023 report, 27% of UK children aged 8-15 who use social media have experienced some form of cyberbullying. This is especially concerning since research has shown that young people who are victims of cyberbullying are twice as likely to self-harm or attempt suicide. It’s been found that this is alongside an increase in time young people spend alone rather than with friends or family.
The positive impact of social media
While there are risks, social media in moderation and with boundaries and safeguarding in place can be positive for children and young people in a variety of ways. Social media can help young people maintain friendships and stay connected with family, something particularly useful for those impacted by physical distance from their loved ones.
Young people facing mental health challenges can find peer support through communities like YoungMinds and Mind's online forums. Social media can also provide a safe space to discuss mental health without stigma, raising awareness and understanding.
There are also a wealth of learning opportunities and resources online, which can complement school learning.
How parents can help children manage social media risk
With all that in mind, if you want to find ways to improve safety online for your children we have some tips. It may be that your child is already active online and owns a smartphone or that they soon will – either way, it’s never too late to see the benefits of encouraging more healthy online behaviour.
Communicate with your child
Less than a third of children speak to their parents about what they’re doing online, which could impact whether they seek help when they experience harmful or abusive behaviour. Talking to your children about the risks online and creating an environment where they can come to you with concerns is vital. Make sure you always take their concerns seriously. The NSPCC has guidelines on how to help a child who has revealed online abuse.
Stay informed
Follow organisations such as the NSPCC and Internet Matters for the latest guidance on keeping children safe online. There has also been a recent Channel 4 documentary about the impact of smart phones on young people’s lives.
Set boundaries
Limiting your child’s screen time could have a positive impact on their sleep, mental health, engagement in other activities, and more. It’s important that you discuss the benefits with your child to help them understand that it isn’t a punishment as, hopefully, this will help them to be more enthusiastic about the change. You can set screen time limits via Apple's Screen Time or Google Family Link. This could also be easy-to-follow rules such as no screens at mealtimes or an hour before bed.
Restrict content
As well as parental locks through your internet provider, there are often parental control features on various apps that block or hide inappropriate content. Ensure that these are activated and talk to your child about reporting content within apps that makes them uncomfortable.
Encourage offline activities
Encourage hobbies that don't involve screens, such as sports, reading, or family activities, to reduce reliance on social media for entertainment. This could be game nights as a family, providing plenty of art supplies or books, encouraging your children to see friends in person on the weekends, or even signing them up for extracurriculars such as swimming, sports clubs, or learning an instrument.
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