The most common concerns raised were:
- Self-harm and suicidality (49% of responses)
- Bullying and peer conflict (45% of responses)
- Mental health presentations (39% of responses)
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is increasingly concerned that the digital environment many children are growing up in is not designed with their safety, development, and mental health in mind. As children and young people spend more time online, there is an urgent need for stronger safeguards to ensure they can benefit from the digital world without being exposed to avoidable harms.
In a recent survey, paediatricians reported seeing increasing numbers of children and young people whose use of social media and online platforms is associated with poor mental, physical, and emotional health and wellbeing. These experiences are not only affecting children and families but are also contributing to growing demand on health services and increasing pressures on paediatric teams.
One paediatrician surveyed said: “I frequently meet [children and young people] who have been admitted to the paediatric ward with mental health problems, such as suicidal ideation, deliberate self-harm, eating disorders. In many of these cases, the young person self-declares to be accessing social media for many hours per day, and in some cases they specifically cite the use of such sites [or] applications as contributing towards their low mood [or] suicidal ideation.”
The survey also highlights some benefits associated with social media and online spaces for children and young people, including access to learning and development resources, as well as support for children with disabilities, those living in care away from their families, and those seeking connection with their peers. This presents a somewhat nuanced picture where the balance of risk varies by age, development and individual vulnerability, meaning simple or blanket solutions are unlikely to be effective if implemented in isolation.
RCPCH believes the UK government now has an opportunity to introduce meaningful protections that put children’s health and wellbeing first. The College is calling for coordinated action across Government to ensure digital environments are designed with children’s needs, rights, and safety at their core.
RCPCH Officer for Mental Health, Dr Sam Jones, said:
Protecting children from online harms is a government-wide responsibility that requires clear, coordinated action across departments. As paediatricians, we are increasingly seeing the real-world impact of the digital environment on children’s health and wellbeing, and we cannot continue to play catch-up with a rapidly evolving online world.
We need to move towards anticipating the needs and wellbeing of children and young people, rather than reacting once harm has already occurred. The opportunity now is to design and regulate digital spaces in a way that actively protects and promotes children’s health, development and future wellbeing.
Notes to Editors:
- Against a backdrop of growing concern about the impact of online activity and social media use, RCPCH sought to better understand paediatricians’ experiences and views to help ensure that child health remains at the centre of any national action.
- A survey shared with RCPCH members received 60 responses over a three-week period. Findings were reviewed by a clinical expert group representing the College’s mental health, child protection, and digital committees.
- While responses came from a self-selecting group, the themes identified were considered reflective of experiences across paediatric services in the UK.