Campaigner: Children Unaware of Internet Dangers

A mental health campaigner has been giving talks in Jersey schools and to parents about the potential dangers of social media and how to manage screen time. Natasha Devon emphasized that while teenagers don’t always recognize the harm of social media, many feel they were given smartphones at too young an age.

During the discussions, Devon highlighted that we are all navigating the challenges of social media together. She also noted the differences in how younger and older generations approach social media. Parents, like Sinead Peacock-Brennan, found the talks insightful and mentioned implementing new strategies at home, such as a “digital sunset” to help with sleep and limit technology use before bed.

Education Minister Rob Ward also joined the conversation, sending a letter to parents encouraging them not to send children to school with phones and implementing policies banning phone usage on school premises. Ward received positive feedback on these policies and emphasized the importance of building on successful strategies within schools to support parents outside of the school environment.

These discussions shed light on the impact of social media on mental health and the importance of setting boundaries around technology use, especially for young people. To stay updated on similar stories, follow BBC Jersey on social media and share your story ideas with us at [email protected].