Digital natives—Growing up mentally healthy in a digital world

Abstract

Digital media have become central to our society and should therefore also be considered in relation to the socioemotional and mental development of children and young people. This article discusses the potential risks and opportunities of digital media for the mental health of this age group based on current usage behavior. With respect to the risks, phenomena such as online behavioral addictions and risky computer game behavior are outlined and preventative measures are presented. Looking at the opportunities, the easily accessible acquisition of information and social support through digital services is emphasized and the potential of digital support services for children and young people with mental health problems is discussed. The comments emphasize the need to consider both the risks to child development and the opportunities for promoting mental health in research, care and communication. In particular, there is still a lack of appropriate political measures to protect children and young people in the digital environment. The effects of digital media on child development depend not only on children’s usage behavior but also on offline factors, such as the quality of the parent-child relationship, the school climate, social integration and other psychological risk factors, the interaction of which has not yet been sufficiently researched. Based on the current state of knowledge, recommendations for pediatric and adolescent medical care are formulated, calling for regular surveys of media use behavior and the integration of children and adolescents as experts on this topic into research.