Report warns of social media's mental health effects on kids
A new report says that this concern "is a wake-up call" that can no longer be ignored.
With 2025 comes the rise of a new generation: Gen Beta.
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Every child in this generation will grow up in a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is a given, shaping all aspect of their lives. Like their predecessors, they’ll also be part of the ongoing digital era defined by social media and the internet.
Social media is a massive part of modern life – whether it's used for staying connected with friends, building businesses, or launching careers as influencers and content creators.
Yet, since its inception, the debate around its pros and cons has been ongoing.
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This debate will continue as long as these platforms stick around and new ones join the fold.
There is also extensive research being done on both sides of the debate, but no solid conclusions can be drawn.
Are people better off without social media interaction, or does it play a positive role in society?
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A new report by KidsRights highlights the very serious and very real effects that social media has on children.
KidsRights "works with children to create a world in which their rights are guaranteed and they are enabled to realise their great potential".
For the last 13 years, they have released the KidsRights Index, the first and only global ranking system that annually measures how children's rights are respected worldwide. It also looks at the extent to which countries are delivering on improving children's rights.
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The KidsRights Index 2025 report, published by the KidsRights Foundation in collaboration with Erasmus University Rotterdam (International Institute of Social Studies and Erasmus School of Economics), highlights the impact of social media on the mental health of children and adolescents.
According to the Index, globally over 14% of children and adolescents aged between 10 and 19 are experiencing mental health concerns. The global average suicide rate is standing at six per 100,000 among adolescents aged 15 to 19 years.
This year’s report is a wake-up call that we cannot ignore any longer. The mental health and/or well-being crisis among our children has reached a tipping point, exacerbated by the unchecked expansion of social media platforms that prioritise engagement over child safety. The controversy surrounding Netflix’s ‘Adolescence’ in February highlighted global concerns about children’s representation and protection in digital media – but we need action, not just outrage
The report identifies the troubling correlation between deteriorating mental health and problematic social media use.
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Research studies and data from Türkiye, Austria, Europe, Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Canada, and China have shown a direct connection between heavy internet/social media use and increased suicide attempts among under-19-year-olds.
Countries such as New Zealand, Australia and the USA have already begun implementing or proposing social media bans for specific age groups.
It has also been a hot topic in South Africa.
We are witnessing governments struggle to contain a digital crisis that is fundamentally reshaping childhood. While major social media platforms face fines in some jurisdictions – such as the £12.7 million penalty imposed by the UK for misusing children’s data – these reactive measures are insufficient. We need proactive, comprehensive frameworks that prioritize child welfare over corporate profits.
Here, you can learn more about the KidsRights Index 2025 report, how it reveals global disparities, highlights data gaps, and finds the balance between regulations and rights.
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Main image courtesy of AFP