During a recent panel discussion in London, the speaker highlighted the complex and nuanced relationship between social media, smartphones, and the mental health of young people. Although parents and policymakers are increasingly concerned, the current scientific evidence does not fully support the idea that digital platforms are the leading cause of deteriorating mental health among children. The speaker emphasized the significant research challenges faced by independent teams, who struggle against powerful tech companies, and called for a transparent discussion about the limitations of existing research and the importance of evidence-based policy-making.
...although we can pinpoint some of the harms caused by social media, we do not have the evidence to say these platforms are the main driver of increases in poor mental health among children.
My research team and I, and others like us, are in a struggle... We're trying to provide oversight of technology giants worth billions of dollars, supported only by meagre and piecemeal short-term project grants.
An honest conversation about these limitations is needed, if we are ever to redress the balance.
Good evidence is seen as crucial for effective policy-making and regulation. A lack of evidence gives companies carte blanche.
Collection
[
|
...
]