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The impact of social media on the family

8 November 2018

ICLS Director Yvonne Kelly will be one of the keynote speakers at a conference for policymakers and practitioners seeking to better understand the impact of social media on family life. 

ICLS Director Yvonne Kelly will be one of the keynote speakers at a conference for policymakers and practitioners seeking to better understand the impact of social media on family life. 

The event, organised by Supporting Relationships and Families, hopes to improve understanding of the emerging issues surrounding the increased time individuals are spending on social media, including increasing concerns around the links with poorer mental wellbeing.

Organisers of the event say: "With half the planet spending an average of two hours a day on social media, the internet has become one of the greatest threats to the health of our children and the cohesion of our families. Policy making bodies and global social media corporations are failing to keep pace with the needs of our communities and deal with the pressures social media are placing on the next generation. Digital bullying, on line addiction, child abuse, mental illness and suicide have sadly become the all too easily accepted consequences of the internet."

The event brings together public policy experts, leading mental health practitioners, academic researchers and the private sector to explore the impact of social media on the family. 

Yvonne will present findings from recent research using Understanding Society and the Millennium Cohort Study which demonstrate a clear link between heavy social media use and poorer wellbeing in young people. 

Yvonne will be joined at the event which takes place on November 23, by an eminent panel of speakers including: 

  • Lucy Alexander, whose son committed suicide because of internet bullying
  • Max Davie, Officer  for  Health Promotion  at  the  Royal  College  of  Paediatrics  and  Child  Health
  • Mark Griffiths, Professor of Gambling Studies at Nottingham Trent University
  • Mandy Saligari, Founder and Clinical Director of CHARTER Harley Street
  • Pooja Kumari, Senior Policy Officer at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
  • Jonathan Weinberg of Tomorrow's Student
  • Annetta Bennett, Independent Safeguarding Adviser, Consultant and Trainer
  • Jaap Swart, Executive Board Member of the MVI Foundation

If you are interested in attending the conference, you can book here.