Scotland to produce advice on healthy social media use

The Scottish Government has announced a new package of measures to support young people’s mental health, including the impact of social media and body image on mental wellbeing.

This includes £90,000 of funding to produce advice on the healthy use of social media and screen time.

A review of evidence on the effects of screen use on sleep and the implications of this for mental health will also be commissioned.

Minister for Mental Health Clare Haughey said: “We know that many young people in Scotland, particularly girls, are unsatisfied with their physical appearance, and that high levels of social media use may be detrimental to mental wellbeing. We also know that adolescent girls in Scotland report higher levels of social media use than boys.

“Social media does have the potential to be used in a hugely positive way, but we want to ensure young people are properly informed on how social media promotes unrealistic expectations.

“During Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week we announced that we will be producing advice, specific to Scotland, on the healthy use of social media and screen time. We are now committing £90,000 to carry out this work as part of a package of measures to give young people the support they need. We want all young people to be able to grow up in a modern Scotland with good mental wellbeing.”

 

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