Longfield calls for schools to help children combat social media pressures

Schools need to do more to prepare pupils for the emotional pressures and demands of social media, the children’s commissioner for England has said. A report published today by children’s commissioner Anne Longfield found that children’s use of social media increases rapidly after they enter secondary school, with them often using social media multiple times a day. The report, which focused on social media use among eight- to 12-year-olds, found that while social media helped children stay in touch with friends and entertained them, it also made them view offline activities through a “shareable lens”, made them anxious about their appearance and put them under pressure to seek validation from others from their social media activities. Read more.