“Children are growing up in this environment, so the challenge is to keep them safe while helping them become confident digital citizens.”
media can also influence how young people see themselves, others, and the world around them. Algorithms can repeatedly expose them to increasingly harmful or extreme content. The rise of the digital manosphere, for example, is bringing misogynistic ideas into the mainstream and potentially shaping boys’ and young men’s expectations of intimate and romantic relationships. AND THEN CAME AI The possibilities and risks of the online world have entered a new phase with the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. AI can be a powerful tool, but it also introduces new safety concerns. These include deepfakes, AI-generated sexual or abusive images, convincing false information, and
interactions with chatbots that can feel surprisingly human. Parents now have to wonder what happens when children use AI not just for homework or information but also for advice or emotional support. A young person with a problem might talk to a chatbot instead of a parent, teacher, or friend. Since AI can respond in a warm, personal way, these chats might feel private, safe, and comforting. WHAT ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH? Good mental health helps children handle their feelings, deal with problems, make friends, learn, and reach their potential. Studies in Europe and North America show rising levels of anxiety, depression, and stress among children and teens. Today,
nearly all 15-year-olds have a smartphone with internet access.³ About 97% of young people go online daily. Among 13- to 17-year-olds, 78% check their devices at least once an hour, and 46% say they do it almost all the time.³ In other words, most pre-teens and teenagers carry a device that gives them almost constant access to the digital world, along with all the opportunities and risks that come with it. Digital platforms can help with learning, creativity, socialising, and building new skills. They let young people keep up with friends, make new connections, and feel like they belong. These opportunities come with serious risks. Children can encounter cyberbullying, grooming, pornography, dangerous challenges, pressure to spend money, and other harmful content. Social
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