Children and young people need safe offline spaces to thrive 

Youth work provides environments where young people develop the confidence, leadership, and life skills that make them resilient to online harms

The link between online activity and physical and mental health harms — including anxiety, sleep deprivation, eating disorders, self-harm and suicide ideation — is undeniable.

As chair of Ireland's Online Health Taskforce, which has submitted its final report to the minister for health for consideration, I've spent the past year investigating evidence that should alarm every parent. 

Children are being exposed to cyberbullying, violence, pornography, harmful algorithms, and manipulative marketing designed to exploit their developing minds.