#MHForAll Webinar: Online Experiences and Young People’s Wellbeing
Digital spaces shape how young people learn, socialise, and seek emotional support. While offering connection, these platforms also introduce risks like bullying, appearance pressure, and addictive design.
Government responses have focused on age-based bans, but restriction alone risks severing vital support networks for vulnerable youth. Instead, young people are advocating for safer platform design, user-controlled algorithms, practical digital education, and a voice in governance.
This webinar brings together experts to discuss how we can better understand the risks and opportunities, and explore how we can measure the impact of digital technology on young people. This event also marked the launch of GMHAN's new Need2Know brief, “Online Experiences and Young People's Wellbeing”.
Expert Panellists:
Don Zane Muwanguzi, Awesome Mind Speaks -Uganda (Chair)
Paddy Crump, FlippGen - UK
Karen Scavacini, Vita Alere & Vertentes - Brazil
Vishwa Pathum, Youth Pride Organisation - Sri Lanka
Core Insights from the Expert Panellists
Beyond "Screen Time": Measuring digital impact solely by hours spent online is an outdated concept. What matters is digital intention and outcome - whether a young person is playing games or video chatting to build friendships, or engaging in passive, harmful scrolling.
"Screen time equals bad, less screen time equals good — that is far too simplistic. We need to measure digital outcomes and real-world impacts on sleep, friendship, and wellbeing instead of blanket hours." — Paddy Crump, Campaigns Director at FlippGen
Digital Gaps Reflect Systemic Shortfalls: Youth often turn to online influencers, peer groups, or AI chatbots because physical healthcare systems are burdened by long waitlists, costs, geographic barriers, and social stigma.
"Accessibility is not the same as quality or safety. Digital tools can offer immediate info, but they cannot replace clinical context or human support when a young person is in crisis." — Karen Scavacini, Founder at Instituto Vita Alere
AI is not a Therapy Tool: Young people value AI tools because they are accessible 24/7, empathetic-sounding, and non-judgmental. However, AI lacks clinical judgment and context. It can validate dangerous ideas just as easily as helpful ones.
"AI is a mirror; AI is not a therapist. It is built to tell you that you have the right idea, not to assess clinical risk or understand human consequences." — Paddy Crump, Campaigns Director at FlippGen
Engaging Youth in the Conversation: Youth are best placed to shape the conversations that affect them and design platforms and systems that support their wellbeing.
"Co-designing safer digital spaces means inviting young people in when defining the problem and setting priorities — not just consulting them after all the adult decisions have already been made." — Karen Scavacini, Founder at Instituto Vita Alere
Here’s what our community had to say
To ensure young people are shaping the decisions that affect their lives online, as a global community, we must…
Share the real power with them, and we must make platforms accountable for creating safer spaces where young people can connect and thrive. - Karen Scavacini
View young people as experts and see them as essential to build platforms, interventions and policies that are durable and have a meaningful impact on young people’s lives. - Paddy Crump
Make it fun! Create more intentional fields and communities, and put in place policies that allow for disconnection without the “fear of missing out.” - Zane Muwanguzi
Collaborate with different stakeholders - Karim Ssensamba
Directly involve young leaders and advocates in digital rights panels, advisory boards, and internet governance forums and equip youth with the skills to navigate online safety, advocacy, and technology ethics - Omniya Ahmed
