Internet harming teenagers
According to a UK government report, teenagers are increasingly engaging in selfharm, suffering from eating disorders and not getting enough sleep.
The findings, published by a group of Britain’s most senior civil servants, suggest that the pervasion of the internet and social media, coupled with better parental monitoring and supervision, has prompted major changes in the behaviour of the country’s youth.
At a meeting chaired by the UK government’s chief scientific adviser, experts told the group that ‘digital immersion’ had resulted in a ‘rapid and dramatic societal shift’ which was already having a profound impact on young people. The discussion came in the wake of research commissioned by the government’s ‘horizon scanning’ group, which analyses future opportunities and threats and assesses the impact they might have on policies.
A rise in self-harm, especially among teenage girls, was identified as an ‘area of concern’ by the experts.
Teenagers – use the internet wisely; but limit the hour to avoid self-harm.
Written by: Dr. Ajay Sati.
