The RCPI’s Faculty of Paediatrics has launched a position paper calling for improved measures to safeguard young people online. The paper – Engaging in Online Activity: Prioritising and Protecting the physical and mental health of children and young people – calls for regulation and accountability for online platforms, improved awareness and information, and comprehensive research.
The paper was launched at the RCPI Faculty of Paediatrics Spring Conference on Friday 9 May, where healthcare leaders discussed the growing health concerns and challenges associated with social media use among children and young people. Participants included Prof Mary Horgan, interim Chief Medical Officer (CMO); Prof Ellen Crushell, Deputy CMO; Ms Jillian van Turnhout, Chair Online Health Taskforce; Prof Donal O’Shea, HSE National Clinical Lead Obesity; and co-authors of the paper Dr Judith Meehan and Dr Evanne O’Halloran. The Faculty hopes the paper can inform the work of the Online Health Taskforce and the recommendations to the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.
Dr Judith Meehan, Consultant Paediatrician and Dean of the Faculty of Paediatrics, says that it is clear to many paediatricians and other child healthcare providers that the health of young people can be negatively impacted by certain types and patterns of online activity.
“We recognise the benefits of online platforms in enabling connection, education and self-expression but we cannot ignore or underestimate the negative health impacts we are seeing among children and young people. These include anxiety, depression, self-harm, negative body-image, disordered eating, unhealthy food consumption, poor sleep, risk of obesity, as well as reduction in self-esteem, social wellbeing and happiness,” Dr Meehan says.
The position paper highlights evidence of the effects of physical, mental, and social wellbeing on children and young people that arise from time spent online.
“You simply have to look at the latest TikTok trends like the ‘Blackout Challenge’ and, more recently, ‘SkinnyTok’ to see the potential damage to our children and young people who are still developing physically and mentally,” Dr Meehan says.
“Algorithms reinforce these trends, creating echo chambers and a rabbit hole experience that many young people and even adults are not equipped to navigate. Online platforms need to do more to protect children from harm and be accountable when things go wrong. And parents need to be informed and supported to navigate the online world in partnership with their children.”
The position paper calls for:
1. Action on Accountability: The Government must enact and enforce comprehensive regulations that hold online platforms accountable to ensure safe and age-appropriate environments, including restrictions on harmful content and interactions and ethical platform design that minimises risk of excessive use.
2. Public Awareness and Parental Support: Targeted public awareness campaigns with tailored resources, empowering parents with the tools, knowledge and confidence to guide their children in safe and appropriate use of online platforms.
3. Invest in Research: Prioritise funding of comprehensive research into the psychological, social, and developmental effects of online activity including social media use among children and young people. This research should inform evidence-based policy and educational initiatives.
4. Resources and Support for Health Professionals: Provide targeted resources and training for health professionals to ensure they are equipped to offer informed advice to families and young people regarding the risks and impacts of online activity and social media use.
“We welcome the establishment of the Government Online Health Taskforce and Coimisiún na Meán’s commitment to child safety in the enforcement of the Digital Services Act,” Dr Meehan says.
“The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland’s Faculty of Paediatrics will continue to provide a healthcare perspective to inform action that safeguards children and young people online. The online world evolves quickly, and children are accessing online environments from an earlier age. Collective action is needed now to address the immediate and long-term health risks.”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.