In Autumn 2023 the Education Select Committee launched an inquiry to assess how screen time can support and impact children’s development, wellbeing, and educational outcomes.

The inquiry also aimed to examine:

• the effectiveness of digital safety education in schools;

• the ways in which schools and parents can be better supported to manage children’s screen usage;

• how screen use for academic purposes is being managed in schools.

Together with colleagues at Manchester Institute of Education (MIE), the #So.Me team submitted written evidence to the inquiry in October 2023. The key messages of our submission were:

1. The concept of screen time can be problematic when considering wellbeing and mental health. The quality of the time using social media is likely to be a more important factor, than the quantity of time.

2. Whilst social media can have negative impacts upon wellbeing and mental health, factors, such as bullying, family support, and dissatisfaction with schoolwork, might have greater negative impacts.

3. Using social media can help to improve the wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. This can include connecting with friends or engaging with likeminded others and feeling included in activities that might have otherwise been impossible.

4. Specific services, that offer professionally moderated and safe social media spaces, can offer vital support for children and young people’s wellbeing and mental health. This can include providing high quality responsive information hosted on the same platforms, support in peer forums and direct access to professionals.

5. The Department for Education might take on a role that provides recommendations of quality assured services to that offer web-based mental health and wellbeing support to children and young people accessing education.

You can read the full submitted evidence from MIE here.