Social media fuelling 'devastating' kids' mental health crisis, NGO says
The KidsRights report said one in seven children and adolescents aged between 10 and 19 suffered mental health issues, with the global suicide rate at six per 100,000 for those aged 15-19.
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - The "unchecked expansion" of social media platforms is driving an unprecedented global mental health crisis in kids and teens, a children's NGO said Wednesday, calling for urgent coordinated action worldwide.
The KidsRights report said one in seven children and adolescents aged between 10 and 19 suffered mental health issues, with the global suicide rate at six per 100,000 for those aged 15-19.
Even these high rates represent "the tip of the iceberg" as suicide is widely under-reported due to stigma, according to the Amsterdam-based group.
"This year's report is a wake-up call that we cannot ignore any longer" said Marc Dullaert, KidsRights chairman.
"The mental health... crisis among our children has reached a tipping point, exacerbated by the unchecked expansion of social media platforms that prioritise engagement over child safety," he added.
The report said what it termed "problematic" social media use was on the rise, with a direct link between heavy internet use and suicide attempts.
However, blanket bans are not the answer, the group warned.
Australia passed a law to ban social media use for under-16s.
"Such blanket bans may infringe on children's civil and political rights," including access to information, said the report.
The group urged "comprehensive child rights impact assessments" at a global level for social media platforms, better education for kids, and improved training for mental health professionals.
The report seized on the popularity of Netflix sensation "Adolescence", which highlighted some of the toxic content kids view online.
The mini-series "demonstrated global awareness of these issues, but awareness alone is insufficient," said Dullaert.
"We need concrete action to ensure that the digital revolution serves to enhance, not endanger, the wellbeing of the world's 2.2 billion children," he said. "The time for half-measures is over." — Agence France-Presse
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
3 days ago
- GMA Network
Third Filipino conjoined twins to undergo surgery in Saudi Arabia
Klea Ann and Maurice Ann Misa of Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro are set to become the third Filipino conjoined twins to undergo separation surgery in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. According to a recent post by the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, the twins and their parents paid a courtesy visit to Ambassador Raymond Balatbat ahead of the "life-changing" procedure. "With their parents by their side, these brave little souls are embraced by the unwavering support of two nations united in compassion," the embassy's post read. "Their journey ahead is one of hope—hope for a future filled with possibility and a new beginning," the post added. In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Manila said the twins "have been interconnected for six years." They are currently under the care of the Saudi Ministry of Health for medical checkups for their "rigorous medical procedure and eventual separation," the DFA added. This marks the third time that Filipino conjoined twins were flown to Saudi Arabia for treatment under the Kingdom's humanitarian program. In 2024, Akhizah and Ayeesha Yusoph of Davao del Norte underwent the procedure. At the time, they were one year and four months old and shared a liver when they were fetched for the operation. Twenty years ahead of them, conjoined twins Ann and Mae Manzo became a beneficiary of the Saudi project. Saudi Arabia has been known to be a pioneer in the field of separating conjoined twins, having performed more than 133 operations for various nationalities as of May last year. "The Embassy acknowledges the remarkable vision of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program—not only in giving Filipino twins a chance at a normal life, but in extending its kindness to conjoined twins from across the world," the Philippine embassy added. According to the Mayo Clinic, conjoined twins "develop when an early embryo only partially separates to form two individuals." "Some surviving conjoined twins can be surgically separated. The success of surgery depends on where the twins are joined and how many and which organs are shared. It also depends on the experience and skill of the surgical team," the United States-based hospital said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- GMA Network
Social media fuelling 'devastating' kids' mental health crisis, NGO says
The KidsRights report said one in seven children and adolescents aged between 10 and 19 suffered mental health issues, with the global suicide rate at six per 100,000 for those aged 15-19. AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - The "unchecked expansion" of social media platforms is driving an unprecedented global mental health crisis in kids and teens, a children's NGO said Wednesday, calling for urgent coordinated action worldwide. The KidsRights report said one in seven children and adolescents aged between 10 and 19 suffered mental health issues, with the global suicide rate at six per 100,000 for those aged 15-19. Even these high rates represent "the tip of the iceberg" as suicide is widely under-reported due to stigma, according to the Amsterdam-based group. "This year's report is a wake-up call that we cannot ignore any longer" said Marc Dullaert, KidsRights chairman. "The mental health... crisis among our children has reached a tipping point, exacerbated by the unchecked expansion of social media platforms that prioritise engagement over child safety," he added. The report said what it termed "problematic" social media use was on the rise, with a direct link between heavy internet use and suicide attempts. However, blanket bans are not the answer, the group warned. Australia passed a law to ban social media use for under-16s. "Such blanket bans may infringe on children's civil and political rights," including access to information, said the report. The group urged "comprehensive child rights impact assessments" at a global level for social media platforms, better education for kids, and improved training for mental health professionals. The report seized on the popularity of Netflix sensation "Adolescence", which highlighted some of the toxic content kids view online. The mini-series "demonstrated global awareness of these issues, but awareness alone is insufficient," said Dullaert. "We need concrete action to ensure that the digital revolution serves to enhance, not endanger, the wellbeing of the world's 2.2 billion children," he said. "The time for half-measures is over." — Agence France-Presse
GMA Network
04-06-2025
- GMA Network
Around 100 dead cats found at Japan woman's home
TOKYO, Japan - Around 100 dead cats were discovered at the squalid home of a woman in southwest Japan who belonged to an animal welfare group, a local official said on Wednesday. The group, Animal Assist Senju, apologised on social media, posting pictures of the trash-strewn house it said "was overflowing with faeces and urine". The residence belonged to one of its staffers, who the group said was found to have gone rogue and taken in many cats without consulting the organisation. One cat was found "unrecognisable" with "its skin partly peeled off and paws covered in faeces and urine", the group said in an Instagram post at the weekend. Kumamoto City's animal protection center told AFP on Wednesday that the dead felines were initially estimated to total "around 100". Media reports however said the number is now thought to be higher. Animal Assist Senju, based in the region of Kumamoto, says it rescues cats and dogs from animal shelters and transfers them to new homes. "All the members of our group take what happened very seriously," it said in another Instagram post. "We can only imagine what agonising pain the cats went through before dying." The woman is no longer allowed to take in cats, it said. City officials and animal rights volunteers inspected the house twice after they were notified last week of a feline death, before launching a full search and rescue mission. It is not clear if legal action has been taken against the woman. Twelve live cats have been saved from the home so far, according to city animal protection official Tsutomu Takimoto. — Agence France-Presse
