Colman Noctor: I’ve yet to meet a nine-year-old who can safely manage their online life

We know that those who have grown up in a time when smartphone usage is a generation that sleeps less, socialise less and worries more than any previous generation

The worldwide increase in mental health problems among young people runs parallel to the rise of smart technologies

When I embarked on my doctoral research in 2012, I quickly became aware of the potential dangers of smart technologies for young people. I began to speak publicly about the potential impact of these devices on their mental health and wellbeing. 

Back then, we were trying to get our heads around platforms like Facebook and YouTube, novelty spaces pitched as platforms to connect with friends we had not seen in years or keep in touch with ones who lived in faraway places. We were impressed by what these technologies could do. For example, we no longer had to buy hundreds of CDs — instead, we could store our music in our pockets.