Growing up in the digital world, the young people of today do not remember life without the Internet and social media. 4 out of 5 young people aged between 15 and 24 use the Internet daily, and the average teenager browses social media for 5 hours a day, demonstrating that digital technologies play an influential role in the development of young people through the information they are exposed to.

Worryingly, significant long-term use of digital technologies has been linked to poor mental health. Young people who spend several hours each day on social media are at an increased risk of experiencing “higher discomfort with one’s body”, suicidal thoughts and sadness. These difficulties are not solely caused by the content of social media, but also by the habits it encourages, such as constant multitasking, overstimulation, and disrupted attention spans.

Young people are aware of the adverse impacts that social media may have on their mental health, as highlighted in youth consultations in Australia, the United States and more, yet struggle to navigate the complexities of misinformation and algorithmic influences.

However, the Internet and social media are beneficial to many young people, as they can foster communities that are safe and supportive. Many young people often lack such communities in their local area. The Internet and social media also offer educational value through educational games, streaming services, and various other digital spaces which enhance creativity, cognitive development, and curiosity. Importantly, these platforms also serve as vital spaces where mental health awareness can be raised and stigma actively challenged through youth-led content and dialogue. From a youth perspective, attempts at barring youth from accessing digital technologies thus may pose more harm than good, as it would deprive the most vulnerable societal groups of a sense of belonging and hinder potential educational gains.

The inadequate regulation present in many social media platforms is a contributing factor, as triggering and exploitative content often goes unchecked and unaccounted for. Young people need to be provided with safe access to, opportunity to benefit from and capacity to express themselves in the digital world. This includes protecting youth from cyberbullying and online harassment and any other form of violence online.

We recommend the global community and UN member states to:

• Prioritize the digital well-being of young people by establishing robust safeguards within our educational institutions and beyond, protecting them from risks such as data breaches, manipulative algorithms, and harmful content that can exacerbate mental health challenges, including the promotion of eating disorders. 
• Strengthen digital governance frameworks to ensure that young people have the right to a secure, supportive, and transparent online space.
• Scale up educational initiatives that teach youth to safely navigate digital spaces by enhancing critical thinking and digital literacy skills.
• Require social media companies to incorporate mental health impact assessments into the development of new features and algorithms, just as environmental impact assessments are required for physical development.
• Require social media companies to add child safety features.
• Actively involve young people in decision-making processes about digital policies and the development of online platforms, ensuring their voices are heard in shaping the digital environments they engage with.