Strategies to help young people lead healthy digital lives

As part of the Economic and Social Research Council's Festival of Social Science, Emily Setty, Dr Robyn Muir and Jonny Hunt led an online workshop looking at ways to help young people lead healthy digital lives.

Evidence-based, with real practical advice for those of us who are navigating this landscape with our children and young people. Refreshing and thoughtful antidote to the moral panic that can surround this subject matter...

Workshop participant

Having been working with young people and schools for many years, the team brought parents, practitioners and young people together to explore the benefits of reframing the often negative and alarmist headlines around children's digital lives.

Parents walked away with an appreciation that banning smartphones and shutting down digital experiences is nowhere near as helpful as taking the time to co-navigate the online world hand-in-hand.

Young people expressed a need for support including; screen time limits, phones removed at bedtime, open conversations about online safety, support to navigate inappropriate content, and finding a way to be trusted. They're worried about things like; online harm, fake news, eye strain, friendship pressures, bullying, spending too much money and dangerous people online.

If you missed the session, why not catch up online here and share with friends or colleagues bringing up young people?