Teens want adults to better understand their online world

But in these discussions, the main participants - the adolescents themselves - are hardly heard. A new international study partially remedies this situation. The Conversation reports.

Researchers, in collaboration with UNICEF and partners, surveyed more than 490 children and adolescents aged 10-19 from 11 countries: Belgium, Chile, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Malawi, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. Young participants were asked questions about mental health and how digital communication affects their well-being.

What teenagers say about adults and the internet

Across all countries, teens described their experiences - both the pros and cons of digital life - in much the same way. Many complained that adults:

• have little understanding of what kids do online;

• have little or no interest in their digital lives;

• don't think about their own online habits.

At the same time, teenagers emphasised that they want adults to better understand and accept their online world.

One boy from Chile talked about a friend he met through the game: he shares his problems with him almost every day, but is afraid to talk to his parents - they devalue everything.

"I'm trying to help, but I'm not an adult who has been through something like this," the researchers quoted.

Teenagers said digital communication can provide a sense of support and belonging, which is important for mental wellbeing. But at the same time, the internet increases stress: due to constant comparisons, cyberbullying and a sense of "wasted time".

Many were blunt: they need adult help - how to cope with what they see and experience online.

Comparisons, bullying and anxiety

Study participants said they constantly compare themselves to bloggers and celebrities - their looks, their success, their money. This creates unrealistic expectations of life and reinforces harmful gender stereotypes.

Especially painful for girls are the demands to "look pretty" and the feeling that their value depends on the number of likes. Many teenagers realise that a picture on social media is often not real, but they admit that comparisons still take a toll on self-esteem and mood.

A teenager from Sweden said:

"Social media is very influential. You compare yourself to others. You don't see that it's the same person with their own problems. You only see the facade, the perfect picture - and you feel worse."

Teenagers cited online bullying - on social networks and chat rooms - as the second major problem. The digital environment takes bullying from school to personal space: messages and comments haunt the child at home, around the clock.

"With social media, we are never safe from other people's opinions," noted one participant.

Both boys and girls described the fear that their photos could be used without permission or shared in a derogatory and sometimes threatening context. In several countries, adolescents were emphatic: girls are particularly vulnerable to sexualised violence and pressure online.

The Internet as a support, not just a risk

At the same time, study participants emphasised that the Internet is not only a source of stress, but also an important resource for support. This was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when face-to-face interactions were limited.

Social networks and online games helped:

• make friends from other cities and countries with similar interests and concerns;

• feel that you are "not alone";

• find anonymous help and information about mental health;

• distract yourself from anxiety and stress.

A teenager from Chile, for example, told us that online you can find people "with similar interests" who are accepting when you are not accepted offline: "[Online] makes you feel better, not alone."

What teens expect from adults

The researchers' conclusion: to support teen mental health in the digital age, adults themselves need to pull up digital literacy and listen more closely to young people.

The authors believe that initiatives to create a safer online environment must be developed with teens - otherwise they will be neither understandable nor effective.

Teenagers are not asking for their phones to be taken away, but they do want to be spoken to:

• to be spoken to, not just monitored;

• that their online experience is not devalued;

• that adults teach them how to deal with risks, not just scare them.