A new review reveals that social media and online spaces play a vital role in young people’s development, suggesting that policies should focus on enabling safe engagement rather than imposing blanket bans.
Across the UK, Australia and other countries, the debate over teenagers and social media continues to be framed in the language of danger. Policymakers have increasingly focused on restrictions, including under-16 bans, in response to concerns about harm. Yet the picture is more complicated than a simple story of exposure and risk. Young people are not only navigating online life; they are also using it to build confidence, shape identity and find connection.
That broader view is reflected in a new review of 90 qualitative studies from 26 countries, published in the journal article summarised by the provided material. The research draws on the voices of young people aged 12 to 19 and uses self-determination theory, which suggests that wellbeing depends on autonomy, competence and relatedness: in plain terms, feeling in control, feeling capable and feeling connected to others. The authors argue that these needs are especially important in adolescence, when independence and identity are still taking shape.
The review found that online spaces can help meet all three of those needs. Young people described social media, gaming and the wider internet as places for self-expression, creativity and learning. They also spoke about developing digital literacy and resilience, along with a sense of “creative confidence” as they learnt to make and share their own ideas. For many, online life was not a side issue but a central part of how they socialised, explored who they were and made sense of their place in the world.
The benefits were especially clear for adolescents from marginalised or underrepresented groups. The studies found that digital spaces often offered support, belonging and recognition that were missing offline. Some young people used online communities to explore identity, meet like-minded peers and feel less alone. As one participant put it, the internet gave them “an outlet” and a sense of community they could not find in person. For young people who felt isolated, those spaces could be a source of strength rather than simply a source of risk.
That does not mean safety should be ignored. Amnesty International UK has warned that blanket social media bans for under-16s risk treating children as the problem while leaving platform design and business models largely untouched. The organisation said such measures may be too blunt to address the full range of online harms and could undermine young people’s rights to information, expression and participation. The research reviewed in the journal article points in a similar direction: protecting young people and supporting their development need not be competing goals.
The practical challenge, the authors say, is to build digital environments that are both safer and more enabling. That means designing platforms with young people’s needs in mind, but also helping them use existing knowledge more effectively. The review found that some teenagers already understand algorithms and actively shape their feeds by unfollowing accounts, deleting apps and choosing more positive content. Teachers and parents, the authors suggest, can build on that awareness by encouraging young people to reflect on their values and make online choices that support them.
Seen this way, the debate is not only about how to reduce harm. It is also about how to create the conditions in which young people can flourish online.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
