Safety in online environments for children and youth has been significantly addressed by the Biden-Harris Administration’s Kids Online Health and Safety Task Force. Co-led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s (DOC) National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the task force released a comprehensive report detailing recommendations and best practices for safer social media and online platform use for young people.
This report, titled Online Health and Safety for Children and Youth: Best Practices for Families and Guidance for Industry, aligns with the Administration’s efforts to tackle the ongoing youth mental health crisis and supports the President’s Unity Agenda for the nation. Additionally, task force members committed to future actions, such as providing more resources for kids, teenagers, and families, offering guidance for pediatricians, and conducting further research.
Safety Commitment: Gina Raimondo Highlights Administration’s Efforts to Protect Youth Online
Gina Raimondo, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, emphasized the administration’s commitment: “Across the Biden-Harris Administration, we are committed to combating the youth mental health crisis in this country and ensuring Americans have the tools and support they need to thrive online. As more and more of kids’ time is spent online, this administration is taking steps to protect their privacy and mental health. The recommendations in our report will chart a path toward an Internet that works for everyone.”
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra echoed these sentiments: “President Biden has made addressing the youth mental health crisis a top priority. That’s why we are taking steps to ensure the safety and well-being of young people when they use social media and online platforms. The Biden-Harris Administration has a whole-of-government approach to protect the mental health, safety, and privacy of youth online, but it will take more than government alone to achieve results.”
The report highlights the widespread use of social media among young people, with approximately 95% of teenagers and 40% of children between the ages of eight and twelve years old using some form of social media. While digital technology can benefit young people’s well-being, it also exposes them to significant risks, such as bullying, online harassment, abuse, discrimination, and child sexual exploitation. Moreover, adolescents seeking health and safety information online risk encountering inaccurate or harmful content.
To address these concerns, the report provides a comprehensive overview of the risks and benefits of social media on the health, safety, and privacy of young people. It includes best practices for parents and caregivers, recommended practices for industry, a research agenda, and suggestions for future work, including actions for the federal government. Input from youth advocates, civil society organizations, academic researchers, and other experts helped shape the task force’s recommendations.
Safety Focus: Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon Emphasizes Protecting Youth Mental Health on Social Media
Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and leader of SAMHSA, stressed the importance of protecting young people’s mental health when using social media: “SAMHSA is focused on helping young people, their parents, caregivers, and others to protect their mental health when using social media and online platforms. We know that while there are some benefits to using this technology, such as building connections and supportive communities, there is also substantial cause for concern, and we want to reduce the potential harms as much as possible so that young people can thrive.”
Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator, reinforced the urgency of acting now: “As young people spend more of their lives online, it is past time to act and do more to protect them. This task force report outlines practices and design choices that companies can implement today to prioritize the privacy of kids, their well-being, and their ability to thrive online. Our report suggests changes that will help young people safely navigate and enjoy all the benefits the Internet offers, while minimizing the risks they face.”
The report also provides extensive resources for parents and caregivers, including an overarching framework, strategies, handouts, conversation starters, and a compendium of resources developed in coordination with the SAMHSA-funded Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, run by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Dr. Megan Moreno, co-Medical Director of the AAP Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, expressed support for the report: “The American Academy of Pediatrics supports the Kids Online Safety Task Force report released today and commends SAMHSA and the Department of Commerce for addressing the impact of social media on youth mental health.”
Furthermore, the AAP Center of Excellence is launching new web content, including recommended best practices resources, age-based handouts for parents, new clinical case examples for pediatricians, and expanded content specifically for teens. These resources aim to make the report’s recommendations accessible and actionable for families and those who work with them.
The task force identified ten recommended practices for online service providers to enhance youth well-being. These practices encourage companies to make design choices that shape kids’ online experiences positively, contributing to safer and more supportive online environments.
In summary, the report from the Kids Online Health and Safety Task Force marks a significant step towards ensuring the online safety, mental health, and well-being of children and youth. By implementing these recommendations and best practices, the Biden-Harris Administration aims to create an internet environment that supports the health and safety of young people, empowering them to thrive both online and offline.
Resource: Health and Human Services, July 22, 2024
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