As I write, Hilary Clinton has just conceded the election. Donald Trump will be President of the United States. This represents a political earthquake, no doubt. If his campaign rhetoric is to be believed, some fundamental givens in western politics – free trade, climate change cooperation, even US commitment to NATO – are now up for discussion. That is sobering. But we respect democracy. And we should not forget that the security, military and personal bonds that underpin the ties between our nations are unshakeable. In a town that hosts GCHQ, that is hugely important. Our special – even essential - relationship will endure.
Returning closer to home, last week I led a debate in the House of Commons on the impact of social media on the mental health of young people.
As the MP for Cheltenham, I see the growing problem of poor adolescent mental health all around. It’s there in the brave teenagers who come to my surgery to talk about the availability of talking therapies, and in the growing workload of staff at the Brownhills eating disorder clinic. It’s also there in the statistics from Teens in Crisis, which in 2013 received 20-30 self-referrals per month, and now receives 70.
The sheer pace of on-line change can leave today’s parents, who are not themselves ‘digital natives’ feeling adrift. It also means that many children are navigating the digital minefield alone.
A growing body of evidence suggests a growing, factor is the excessive use of social media. According to an ONS study, children who spend three hours or more per normal school day on social media sites are more than twice as likely to suffer from poor mental health.
MentalHelp.net found that 95% of teenagers who use social media have witnessed cyberbullying and 33% have been victims themselves. Whereas children in the past could physically escape their tormentors, nowadays social media makes that impossible. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram bring bullies into the bedroom.
And then there’s the damaging ‘compare and despair’ and ‘sexting’ phenomena. Sleep deprivation, caused by young people checking their smartphones late at night, is also having an impact. A recent study suggested that over 20% of teenagers do so at least ten times a night. Fatigue is well known as a risk factor for depression.
I called this debate to shine a light on this subject. We need to improve resilience in our young people, particularly in preparing them for the world of social media. That should include better information for parents and carers. I also want to see social media platforms taking their fair share of responsibility for some of the bullying and trolling that takes place on their (digital) premises
It’s high time MPs engaged with this vital issue. We need to help ensure the next generation is better prepared for the digital deluge to come.