The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
‘Futile’ to try and protect young from internet risks
Health: Online lives are private
Trying to protect children from all online risks may be futile, according to a new report, which says youngsters are increasingly conducting their online lives in private.
The study also warns that more than a third (37%) of UK 15-year-olds are now “extreme internet users”, who are on their computers for more than six hours a day outside of school hours.
This is some of the heaviest use for countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with only children in Chile using the internet more.
The report, from the Education Policy Institute (EPI), said young people in the UK are also extensive users of social media sites, such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, with 95% of 15-year-olds in the UK using social media before or after school in 2015.
It added: “This online activity is increasingly private, with young people using the internet in their bedrooms or on a smartphone.
“The rise in popularity of instant messaging means that online discussions are now often held in private groups, rather than on public profiles.”
“Online discussions are now often held in private groups”
Experts behind the study said the focus of public policy must be on making children resilient so they know how to navigate the risks, which may include a negative impact on their mental health and exposure to cyber-bullying.
As well as conducting online lives in private, “the way in which young people connect with social media is changing rapidly due to the fast pace of technological innovation, such as the development of livestreaming,” it said.
“It is therefore likely to be futile to attempt to protect children and young people from all online risks.
“This indicates that the focus of public policy should be on how to develop resilience in young people to maintain their emotional and mental wellbeing and to live safe digital lives.”
The report pointed to one study from the Office for National Statistics in 2015 which found that there was a “clear association” between time spent on social media and mental health problems.