New report published on how agency supports young people’s wellbeing in a digital world

Internet Matters has published a paper entitled ‘Intentional use: How agency supports young people’s wellbeing in a digital world’, which examines the perspectives of teenagers and parents from the UK and Europe on teenagers’ agency and its function in regulating screen time. The study found that a teenager’s wellbeing can directly benefit from agency, defined as feeling in control of one’s online behaviours and routines and that a lack of agency can have a detrimental effect.

It is evident that young people who think about their online behaviour and take the initiative to change their digital habits feel more empowered and better off. However, this does not mean that they can do it alone. Governments have a responsibility to set digital standards and promote digital literacy, the industry has a responsibility to design for safety and agency, and parents and carers have a responsibility to provide guidance and support to young people when needed.