Digital Skills Don't Guarantee Youth Mental Health

Many young people with mental health struggles are internet savvy, but digital skills alone won't solve their problems.

A new study finds that even digitally skilled young people still face big online challenges that can worsen their mental health.

Study Design and Participants

Researchers wanted to understand:

How different digital skills affect young people dealing with mental health difficulties.
How young people experience the internet's role in their mental health.
What steps could help them cope online.

The research team conducted in-depth interviews with 62 young people, aged 12 to 22, in Norway and the UK. Most participants were 16-19 years old and had recently received mental health treatment. Clinical psychologists or mental health professionals led these interviews to gain a deep understanding of their experiences.

Key Findings: The Paradox of Digital Proficiency

This study focused on personal stories rather than statistics. While participants were often highly skilled internet users, impressive digital abilities did not automatically lead to better mental health. Many reported negative online experiences that contributed to their struggles.

These issues often stemmed from the very structure of the digital world, such as:

Algorithms: Computer rules that amplified upsetting content.
Design features: Elements of social media that made it hard to discern trustworthy information.

The study highlighted four key digital skill areas:

Using technology: General technical proficiency.
Finding information: Ability to locate relevant data online.
Talking and sharing online: Communication and social interaction skills.
Creating content: Producing digital material.

"The mastery of technical, informational, communication and creation skills is complexly interlinked in everyday contexts," the authors stated. They emphasized the need for "a good understanding of the psychosocial context and developmental needs of each young person," and to "situate their digital experiences in the context of their wider lives, both individually and collectively."

This means understanding how a young person's offline life affects their online experiences. Young people in the study often felt they had to navigate the complexities of the internet on their own, like exploring a "wild jungle without a map."

Implications and Limitations

The findings suggest that simply teaching young people more digital skills is insufficient. A broader approach is needed:

Changing the online environment: Making digital spaces safer and more supportive for everyone, especially vulnerable individuals.

A limitation of the study was the number of participants and their demographic skew (mostly girls). Therefore, the results may not apply to all young people. Future research should include larger and more varied groups.

Conclusion

The study concludes that the digital world needs urgent changes and better rules. This will enable young people—especially those with mental health challenges—to trust and navigate it safely.

Livingstone, S., Stoilova, M., Stänicke, L. I., Jessen, R. S., Graham, R., Staksrud, E., & Jensen, T. K. (2022). Young people experiencing internet-related mental health difficulties: The benefits and risks of digital skills. An empirical study. KU Leuven, ySKILLS.