Youth and the Internet: threats and countermeasures

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) conducted a thorough study to examine the impact of the three-year-old ban on the use of mobile phones in Norwegian middle schools. The study, which utilized specific methodology, found that banning smartphone use in schools is an easily accessible way to improve students’ mental well-being and academic performance. The ban had a particularly positive impact on the mental health and grades of girls from lower-income families, and it also led to a decrease in cases of bullying among young people.

According to the British Office of Communications (Ofcom) and Internet Matters, one in seven minors between the ages of 9 and 16 experienced image-related sexual abuse online and was exposed to nudity being shared online. Ofcom research also revealed that children and young people aged 8 to 17 spend between two to five hours on the Internet per day, and almost every child over 12 years of age has a mobile phone and watches videos on social media platforms.

Researchers have noted that teenagers may face particular challenges in navigating social uncertainty as they shape their social identity in the virtual world, where smiles take the form of hard-to-read emojis and physical cues are absent. Misinterpreting social signals can lead to social exclusion and loneliness. However, it is still being determined how vulnerable young people are to these threats, as research on social insecurity in online spaces is virtually nonexistent.