In a powerful new two-part blog series for the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, Professor Gordon Harold, Co-Director of Cambridge Public Health, examines the vital role of parents in supporting adolescent mental health in the digital age.
Prompted by the conversations sparked by the Netflix series Adolescence, which exposes the dangers young people face online — from influencer culture to algorithm-driven harms — Professor Harold unpacks the science behind social media's impact on youth development.
In Part 1, he emphasises the urgent need for evidence-based tools to help parents and caregivers guide their children through an increasingly complex digital landscape.
In Part 2, he delves into what research reveals about social media’s influence on adolescent mental health, identity formation, and social relationships.
These reflections offer valuable insights for policymakers, educators, researchers, and families working toward a safer, healthier digital world for the next generation.