828957 RSH PolicyPolicy

Policy

Enhancing the positive impact of social media on our

mental health
There is no denying that social media has revolutionised the way we communicate and share information. It has become a
space in which we form and build relationships, shape self-identity, express ourselves, and learn about the world around us,
and thus it’s not surprising that social media is intrinsically linked to our mental health.
In 2017, the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) pioneered research into the positive and negative effects of social
media on young people’s health with our #StatusofMind report. After surveying 1,479 14- to 24-year-olds, we found social
media to have huge potential to support good mental health and wellbeing. Social media platforms can provide young
people who may be suffering from mental health issues an opportunity to read, watch or listen to, and to understand the
health experiences of others – relating them back to their own reality.
Our survey also found nearly 7 in 10 teens had received support on social media during tough or challenging times via
‘groups’ or ‘pages’ which allow users to surround themselves with like-minded people and share their thoughts or
concerns. Adding to this, social media can act as an effective platform for accurate and positive self-expression, provide a
place to share creative content, and express interests and passions with others.
Yet while undeniably there are a range of benefits, for many of us, our relationship with social media has become a little
complicated, especially when it comes to our mental health. This is understandable in an online world where we are faced
with a constant influx of images and videos, unrealistic beauty standards and an endless stream of apparently blissful, happy
relationships. Our research has shown social media to contribute to anxiety and depression, poor sleep, negative body
image, cyberbullying and FOMO (fear of missing out)—characterised by the need to be constantly connected with what
other people are doing, so as not to miss out.
Now, more than ever before, social media platforms are being treated as a threat to the public’s health, and in particular to
the mental health and wellbeing of young people. Building on the findings of our #StatusofMind report, we established the
first All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Social Media and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing in February
2018. The cross-party group’s purpose is to build upon the evidence base of the impact of social media upon young
people’s mental health and wellbeing, to raise the political profile of the issue, and to drive policy change that mitigates the
negatives and maximises the positives of social media for young people.
Since its launch, the APPG has been busy undertaking an inquiry into how to manage the impact of social media on
young people’s mental health and wellbeing, with the aim to build the evidence base on the issue, but also to inform
progressive and practical solutions, including proposed social media guidelines for industry.
The group has now heard evidence, views and experiences from a variety of expert stakeholders, industry and
importantly, young people themselves through written evidence submissions received throughout summer 2018 and through
five oral evidence sessions, which took place between October 2018 and January 2019.
We will be publishing a report of the findings from the inquiry in 2019 which will seek to explore what action can be taken
to lessen the negative impact of social media on young people’s mental health and wellbeing. This will include identifying
where capacity and responsibility to address the impact of social media lies, including the roles for government, industry,
voluntary sector, parents and young people.
Our report will also make recommendations to government on its role in mitigating the bad and maximising the good of social
media for young people and outline how the social media industry can make social media platforms more conducive to positive
mental health and wellbeing, including informing developer guidelines. The report will also aim to highlight innovative digital tools and
educational approaches that can be used by educators, parents and young people to manage their relationships with social media.
The evidence gathered throughout the inquiry has demonstrated the demand and urgent need for action to be taken by a
range of players, including industry and UK Government, in ensuring social media is a safe space for children and young
people growing up in a digital world.
On the back of what has been a successful and valuable inquiry, we now look forward to the publication of the APPG
report. Moving forward with the recommendations and calls to action made in the report, the APPG strives to work with a
range of players to enhance the positives while mitigating the negative impact of social media on young people’s mental
health and wellbeing.
If you would like to learn more about the work of the APPG and to find out more about RSPH’s campaign work in this
area, please contact me at nmcdade@rsph.org.uk.

Niamh McDade
Senior Campaigns and Communications Executive, RSPH

March 2019 Vol 139 No 2 l Perspectives in Public Health 65