Tricky one. It was reported this week in the Guardian that Denmark was considering banning social media for under 15s.
It quoted Danish PM Mette Frederiksen as blaming mobile phones and social networks for “stealing our children’s childhood”.
“Never before have so many children and young people suffered from anxiety and depression,” she said, adding, “on screens they see things no child or young person should see”.
Denmark’s minister of digitalisation, Caroline Stage, said, “We’ve been too naive. We’ve left children’s digital lives to platforms that never had their wellbeing in mind. We must move from digital captivity to community.”
Hard to argue with any of that. I recall a conversation I had recently with an educational psychologist, who said that levels of anxiety in children had shot up, and the rise started with the launch of the smartphone.
Yet, yet… there are counter arguments. In a December 2024 article in Wiley’s Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, titled, ‘Contributing Factors to the Rise in Adolescent Anxiety and Associated Mental Health Disorders: A Narrative Review of Current Literature’, it pointed out that, “the impact of social media on adolescent mental health is a complex issue...”
“The emergence of social media platforms has revolutionised the way adolescents interact with peers and perceive themselves, bringing both positive and negative implications for mental health.”
The article acknowledges “concerns about potential negative effects on mental health, such as screen time-related issues and exposure to negative online content” but pointed to the “potential for social media to serve as a valuable tool in promoting mental well-being, if users engage in healthy, supportive online behaviours”.
“Adolescent anxiety is influenced by a multitude of factors that encompass biological, environmental, and social domains… The impact of social media on adolescent mental health is profoundly shaped by the interplay of individual vulnerabilities, the nature of social media engagement, and the broader social context.”
The article recommended that “future research and interventions should not only aim to mitigate the risks associated with social media use but also leverage its potential as a resource for promoting mental health and resilience among adolescents.”
These more measured tones contrast with the passionate certainty of the Danish politicians.
Which is right? As usual, probably somewhere in between. Better digital literacy programmes, increased focus on extra-curricular and non-digital activities, initiatives to reduce screen time, and better regulation of big tech to enforce the filtering out of inappropriate content would all help.
As the opening sentence in the Wiley article points out: “The prevalence of anxiety among adolescents has seen a notable increase in recent years, becoming a significant public health concern.”
The digital world is clearly a major contributing factor, so the sooner government and society come up with properly thought-through remedies, the better.
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