We are proud to announce the launch of a new national report focusing on digital wellbeing among young people in the UK.
The Digital Wellbeing 2020 Report asked 1000 young people aged 12-16 from across the UK a series of 10 questions relating to their overall relationship with technology and how this impacts their physical and mental health. Participants were asked about important topics such as smartphone addiction, parental support, screen time, and other key indicators we identified as areas of potential risk to young people's mental and physical wellbeing.
Our Digital Wellbeing 2020 report provides a unique insight into young people's perspectives regarding their own digital wellbeing, as well as the perceived capabilities of existing support structures within their home and school environments to understand and support them effectively.
Dan Raisbeck, Co-founder, The Cybersmile Foundation
The study was undertaken to better understand young people's relationships with their devices and the internet and how these relationships affect various aspects of their health. The way young people feel about their parental and school support networks, their feelings toward their own parents' internet use, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people's internet habits are all explored in Digital Wellbeing 2020.
Cybersmile's commitment to better understand young people's relationship with technology has been supported by Dr. Radha Modgil, an NHS GP & wellbeing campaigner who is a regular medical expert on TV and is currently writing for Top of the Pops magazine. Dr. Radha has previously worked on campaigns with BBC Children in Need, Public Health England, and the NHS Youth Forum.
We are all relying much more on technology and online activities for so many aspects of our lives. It has never been more important, therefore, to equip and support people with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to navigate the internet safely without neglecting their own wellbeing. This is why I am supporting The Cybersmile Foundation who are doing incredible work to help people of all ages not only build the necessary skills to deal with online life and to reach out for support when they need it, but also on the importance of kindness, inclusion and digital wellbeing.
Dr. Radha Modgil, NHS GP & Wellbeing Expert
The study was conducted by Censuswide across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland with 1,000 general respondents (aged 12–16) between 5.15.2020 and 5.19.2020. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society, which is based on the ESOMAR principles, and are members of The British Polling Council.
The regional data offers interesting insights and comparisons for major cities in the UK, including Belfast, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Plymouth, Sheffield, and Southampton.
Key Findings
Below are some of the key findings from our Digital Wellbeing 2020 report:
- 60% feel the time they spend online negatively impacts other important areas of their lives, including sleep, diet, exercise, and study.
- 46% consider themselves addicted to their smartphone.
- 55% of 16-year-olds consider themselves addicted to their smartphone.
- Over half (51%) of females consider themselves addicted to their smartphones.
- 42% consider their parents to be addicted to their smartphones.
- 35% feel that internet and social media use negatively affects their mental and/or physical health.
- 18% would like their parents to help them more with reducing the amount of time they spend online.
- Over a quarter (27%) feel that their parents would not know how to help them with online-related problems.
- A third (33%) of 16-year-olds feel that their parents would not know how to help them with online-related problems.
- 30% feel that their school would not know how to help them with an online-related problem.
- 18% do not feel comfortable going to their parents with an online-related problem.
- Over a quarter (27%) of 16-year-olds do not feel comfortable going to their parents with an online-related problem.
- 9% feel that their parents' internet and social media use has affected their ability to look after them.
- 12% of 13-year-olds feel that their parents' internet social media use has affected their ability to look after them.
- 63% of young people in Northern Ireland feel their parents are addicted to their smartphones.
- Internet and social media use among young people has doubled during the COVID-19 lockdown, with the daily average time spent online among those aged 12-16 years old increasing from 3 to 6+ hours per day.
The findings from Digital Wellbeing 2020 reveal profound insights into the impact of new connected technologies on young people.