Inquiry into impact of social media and screen-use

Parliament’s Science and Technology Committee has launched an inquiry into the impact of social media and screen-use on young people’s health.

This comes following an Education Policy Institute report that 95 per cent of UK 15 year olds use social media before or after school, and half of 9–16 year olds used smart-phones on a daily basis. The Children’s Commissioner has found that children aged 8–12 find it hard to manage the impact of social media.

There have been several reports on the impact of social media and the use of screens on children’s mental and physical health. The Royal Society for Public Health’s 2017 report ‘#StatusofMind’ called for action to promote the positive aspects of social media for young people, whilst mitigating the potential negatives.

The Youth Select Committee’s 2017 report 'A Body Confident Future' examined negative and positive impacts of social media on body image. One recent US study reported that the presence of smartphones damages cognitive capacity. One study found that more than one in 10 children developed high blood pressure from excessive screen time. On the other hand, another study found no link between children’s use of various screens and any harm to their health.

The Committee is asking for the perspectives and experiences, and details of any initiatives taken, by children, schools and youth organisations. The Committee would welcome written submissions addressing the issues, including:
What evidence there is on the effects of social media and screen-use on young people’s physical and mental well-being, the areas that should be the focus of any further research, and the well-being benefits from social media usage, including for example any apps that provide mental-health benefits to users.

Written evidence should be submitted through the inquiry page by Friday 6 April.