Understanding Digital Childhood
This timely six-month research and policy influencing project supported by the Randal Foundation will explore the complex relationship between children and young people’s engagement with the digital world and their mental health. Against a backdrop of increasing public and political debate around smartphone use, social media, and online safety, the project seeks to bring much-needed evidence and young peoples lived experiences into policy discussions.
A key strength of the project is its focus on understanding the perspectives of young people, particularly those from marginalised and underrepresented backgrounds whose voices are often missing from national debates. Working in partnership with Leaders Unlocked, the project will create meaningful opportunities for young people to shape the research, share their experiences, and contribute directly to recommendations for policymakers.
The project will combine a review of existing evidence with interviews involving experts from policy, research, education, and mental health sectors. Insights from this work will be brought together with findings from youth engagement activities to identify key themes, challenges, and opportunities for supporting young people’s wellbeing in an increasingly digital society.
Rather than simply examining risks, the project will take a balanced approach, exploring both the positive and negative impacts of digital engagement and helping to inform future policy with robust evidence and authentic youth perspectives.
Findings will be translated into a series of accessible and impactful outputs, including a concise policy report, a co-created video developed with young people, and a programme of influencing activity such as webinars and stakeholder engagement events.
Recognising the sensitivity of the topic and the rapidly evolving policy landscape, the project will be underpinned by strong safeguarding procedures, experienced delivery partners, and ongoing engagement with decision-makers.
Our shared ambition is for future policy affecting children’s digital lives to be informed not only by evidence, but by the voices and experiences of young people themselves.
Quote from Michael Morley, Chair of Trustees
“The Board of Trustees is deeply appreciative of this meaningful support from the Randal Foundation in enabling Centre for Mental Health to follow through on one of the planks of its five-year strategy: to bring light, understanding and forward pathways to the complex area of children and young people’s mental health needs, particularly those from marginalised and underrepresented backgrounds. We are committed to a world where everyone can have better mental health, and this project will help us all to make progress in achieving that goal.”
