Policies and public health initiatives to mitigate the mental health impact of internet use among children and adolescents

Abstract

Increasing internet use among children and adolescents has raised significant mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, gaming addiction, and social withdrawal. Recent research highlights innovative international measures to combat internet addiction among children and adolescents, such as limiting or banning usage. However, the lack of clarity in implementing such bans underscores the need for empirically tested and actionable strategies. This paper underscores the importance of national-level guidelines, policies, collaborative research efforts, as well as pragmatic guidelines from regulatory bodies to address the escalating concerns of technology addiction. This viewpoint article provides a summary of current policies and mental health-focused recommendations, which underscores the urgent need for a holistic policy framework to safeguard children and adolescents’ mental well-being and promote their responsible engagement with digital technology in an increasingly interconnected world.