Online spaces are not designed with mental health in mind.
Too often, online worlds expose people to harmful content, misinformation, hate, addictive design and damaging algorithms. These factors are negatively affecting mental health, particularly young people's.
By tackling dangerous content and systems, promoting positive online behaviours and understanding the mental health implications of emerging technologies, we can help make online spaces safer and more supportive of mental health now and in the future.
Protecting people, especially young people, from online harms
We're influencing the digital environment to ensure people, especially young people, are more mentally healthy in their online activity and better protected from online harms.
Our work in this area focuses on:
- Taking action on dangerous content and systems – through policy and campaigns on online safety including policies on restricting access to social media for children and young people, blocking harmful sites, strengthening online safety regulations and industry collaboration.
- Promoting positive online lives – including through research and guidance on algorithm management, screen time, and healthy digital habits; exploring the kitemarking of trustworthy mental health information; and supporting the development of positive online communities.
- Preparing for the mental health impacts of AI – carrying out research and establishing partnerships to improve the safety of AI mental health tools; policy influencing on future AI regulation; and through exploring the mental health dimensions of the future impacts of AI.
