🚨 Common Sense Media ranked AI chatbots fundamentally unsafe for child & youth mental health support, missing warning signs/failing to escalate care.

Despite "unacceptable risk", increasing numbers are turning to AI for support.

commonsensemedia.org/ai-ratings/ai-chatbots-for-mental-health-support

New guidance from @nhsconfed.org offering practical guidance on using AI tools responsibly for NHS communications & engagement

www.nhsconfed.org/publications...

"Universities cannot close attainment gaps without first closing the [digital] access gap. Equity demands infrastructure."

digitalpovertyalliance.org/research/the...

"I think everybody's lost the ability to think for themselves."

Students - voiced by actors - explain how they use AI to cheat on university exams and assignments, as part of a Newsnight investigation.

#Newsnight

90% of us in Britain live in areas where we’re breathing toxic air. ⚠️

It's not just harming our health but cutting tens of thousands of lives short every year.

Is that fair? Help us call on MPs to #MakeHealthEqual — starting with the air we breathe. 👉https://bit.ly/4kWQ72L

What's the state of our digital nation?

We've released our annual Digital Nation to show at what's happening in the digital exclusion landscape in 2025.

To see the full picture, visit www.goodthingsfoundation.org/policy-and-r....

'The [research] also found that the presence of loot boxes, in-game purchases and in-game advertisements was just as common in games rated ages 3 and up as it was in any other age classification.'
icpen.org/news/1432
#ChildFinancialHarms

📱 Young people increasingly turn to social media for health information - and that's where misinformation thrives if we're not there to counter it.

💡 This co-designed framework shares 5 practical tips for communicating with young people about health online.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

"Individuals might cut their smartphone use, schools might restrict them, but the problem of adolescent mental illness will continue to grow unless we face up to the complex societal factors that drive it."
www.bmj.com/content/389/...

Banning smartphone and social media access alone fails to equip children for healthy use of technology, say a group of experts in this Analysis.

The focus should shift to a rights based approach, underpinned by age appropriate design and education
www.bmj.com/content/388/...

“Digital inclusion is everybody's priority, but no one's commitment."

www.holyrood.com/news/view,di...

For #SaferInternetDay, #GlobalKidsOnline joins #EUKidsOnline to celebrate a new report by @davidsmahel.bsky.social highlighting findings from 15 studies of the impact of digital technology use on adolescents @unicefinnocenti.bsky.social @lseblogs.bsky.social
globalkidsonline.net/tech-teens/

Enjoyed being a panellist at YouthLink Scotland’s Conference for #SaferInternetDay talking about the issues young people face online & how we can support.

Some takeaways -
Need regular, balanced conversations about online lines, better regulation of online spaces, digital skills (for us & them)

🆕 Please share

9th Suicide & Self-harm Early & Mid-Career Researchers' Forum

Call for Abstracts

Closing date 31st March.

If you are an early or mid-career researcher working in the field of suicide or self-harm, this conference is for you.

All welcome.

🔗 suicideresearch.info/2024/10/09/9...

8.5 million adults lack the most basic digital skills. So how can we create digital services that are inclusive? Our new long read, supported by @healthfoundation.bsky.social, argues that it's essential to listen to the voices of people & communities. Read more👉 www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...

“TikTok’s annual carbon footprint is likely bigger than Greece’s, study finds”

In all the talk of social media harm, more attention should be given to the carbon footprints of social media platforms, particularly ones that are addictive by design.

www.theguardian.com/technology/2...