"Understanding how young people use social media is the question I am asking"

Luisa Fassi, Phd research University of Cambridge

Exploring the Impact of Social Media on Young People's Mental Health

In this episode, Lucy from Inclusive Change and Inclusive Change at Work CIC speaks with Luisa Fassi, a PhD researcher from the University of Cambridge, about her research on the impact of social media usage on the mental health of young people. 

Luisa discusses her passion for understanding the relationship between social media and mental health, emphasising her focus on young people with existing mental health conditions. She highlights the increase in both social media use and mental health symptoms among youth, exploring the complex relationships between these factors. 

Luisa mentions the importance of considering individual differences, such as age and gender, in her research. The conversation covers the relevance of neurodiversity in social media's impact on mental health and the challenges in conducting longitudinal studies in this relatively new field. 

Luisa also discusses the upcoming Castle Conference hosted by Inclusive Change and Digital Safety CIC on 25th April 2024 at Leigh Court, Bristol, where she plans to present her findings, and the importance of developing evidence-based interventions to promote safer online spaces.

The episode concludes with a discussion on the role of parents, professionals, and companies in addressing the mental health implications of social media use, highlighting the need for digital literacy and responsible data handling by social media companies.

Tickets for The Castle Conference: Digital Wellbeing for Young People are just £9 for delegates and are available at icaw-cic.com