Study to inform government on impact of smartphones and social media on young people
Posted on Thursday 16 January 2025
The project aims to identify which research methods and data sources will be most effective at identifying potential causal relationships between social media, smartphones, and the health and development of children and young people.
Researchers at the Universities of York, Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Manchester, Nottingham, and Oxford will work on the first phase of a Cambridge-led project for the government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, to improve policymakers’ understanding of the relationship between children’s wellbeing and smartphone use, including social media and messaging.
Cause and effect
Dr David Zendle, from the University of York’s Department of Psychology, said: “Concern about the links between smartphone use and the mental health of young people has been building for a number of years. However, cause and effect cannot be understood without improving how we do research.
“Whilst it may be tempting to act as if smartphones and social media are all bad, or indeed all good, a more nuanced approach to the evidence base is needed to ensure that young people get the best from evolving technologies, whilst minimising potential harms.
“This foundational work provides the basis for the next generation of studies into smartphones and social media, and will ultimately create a larger volume of work for the government to draw upon when making important policy decisions in protecting the mental health of young people.”
Online habits
The researchers will review and summarise existing research on the impact of smartphones and social media on children and young people’s mental health, wellbeing, physical health, lifestyle and health behaviours, and educational attainment. The review will recognise the diversity of perspectives that exist in this area and consider where further research could add valuable new insights to the evidence base.
They will assess the various methods and data available to understand the causal impacts, including recognising that online habits and emerging technologies are changing at a rapid pace, and considering how the experiences of vulnerable children and young people – for example, LGBTQ+ young people and those with special needs or mental health issues – can be captured in future research projects.
This will allow the team to recommend and outline how future research studies could deliver robust and causal evidence on the impact of smartphones and social media on child development factors in the next two to three years.
Complex relationship
Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, said: "The online world offers immense opportunities for young people to connect and learn. Ensuring they can do so in an environment which puts their safety first is my priority and will guide this government’s action on online safety.
“That’s why we have launched new research, led by the University of Cambridge, with support from other top UK universities, to better understand the complex relationship between technology and young people's wellbeing.
“This vital research will build a trusted evidence base for future action, helping us to protect and empower the next generation towards a safer and more positive digital future."
