The positive effects of being online have reduced for children aged 9-15 in the space of a year, according to a report from Internet Matters. As children are now back in school full-time their technology use appears to have been shifted later into the evening, which in turn is impacting their sleep and physical wellbeing.
Younger girls aged 9-10 in particular are experiencing much greater negative impacts on their social and physical wellbeing year on year. 45% of this age group now say they stay up late on digital devices (compared to 26% last year) and 49% say they repeat watch programmes or play computer games even though they aren’t enjoying them (compared to 34% last year).
The number of 9-10-year-old girls who say they get upset if they miss out on what’s happening with their friends on social media has doubled year on year (from 16% to 32%) and is higher than any of the other age groups. In terms of body image and self-esteem, one in 10 also say that being online makes them worried about their body shape or size and 13% say it makes them jealous of other people.
Internet Matters data shows that 56% of 9–10-year-old girls said they were using social media, with significant numbers also using platforms only intended for children aged 13+ (48% WhatsApp, 41% TikTok, 26% Snapchat, 15% Instagram).
Of the positive improvements reported in the Index, the most significant was the emotional wellbeing of boys, particularly those aged 15.
Of this group, over 50% less this year say they worry about saying something wrong online (15% compared to 34% last year), and two thirds less say they worry about what people think of them online (7% compared to 21% last year). This points to boys of this age being more confident year on year in their online interactions and less worried about how they are perceived by others.
The previous 2022 Index also demonstrated how vulnerable children were experiencing more of the negative impacts of being online, with this view of vulnerability including children with special educational needs, physical disabilities, and mental health concerns.
This year, children in financially disadvantaged homes show a very similar profile - with children who get free school meals experiencing more negative impacts on their wellbeing across all dimensions.
The Index also shows the role of parents is crucial in regard to children’s wellbeing. In households where children and parents say they often talk to each other about things that are important to them, children experience more positive and fewer negative effects on their wellbeing. This again points to the positive role that having meaningful conversations has for children in relation to their digital life.
Child psychologist and Internet Matters ambassador Dr Linda Papadopoulos said: “This Index once again highlights how important it is for parents to support their children as they navigate the digital world. Tech is becoming a larger part of families lives and there is no sign that this is going to change but parents, carers and professionals supporting young people admit that they struggle to keep up. There needs to be additional support to facilitate open and honest conversations with children in order to improve their wellbeing online.”
Carolyn Bunting, CEO at Internet Matters, said: “Our Index was conceived so we could track the effect of technology on children’s wellbeing year-on-year against this background of new developments in both the digital world and the lives of families in the UK.
"The online world is rapidly changing and now, more than ever, it is vital to understand the influence of technology on children’s wellbeing, and to assess both the positives and negatives arising from the ways they use and interact with the online world. Last year, the Index set a benchmark and this year, we are excited to be able to share the first set of comparative data.
“What parents do matter, and so the clear priority must be on ensuring they have the skills, knowledge and support needed. These findings will continue to provide valuable insight to help us provide the most up-to-date and effective advice for parents and carers to help them best manage and support their children towards positive outcomes from their online lives.”
