Online Health and Safety for Children and Youth: Best Practices for Families and Guidance for Industry

Digital technology use has the potential to both benefit young people’s well-being and to expose them to significant harms. The use of social media and digital technology can provide opportunities for self-directed learning, forming community, and reducing isolation. This can be especially important for youth who are marginalized or experiencing mental distress. This report summarizes the evidence on young people’s use of online platforms and the risks and benefits to their health, safety, and privacy. Based on the identified challenges to youth health, safety, and privacy, the report includes guidance on the following topics to help accomplish the goals of supporting youth and their families:

1. Best Practices and Resources for Parents and Caregivers.
2. A Set of Recommended Practices for Industry, which provides tools and interventions that the Task Force suggests industry implement to improve kids’ health, safety, and privacy on online platforms.
3. A Research Agenda that advances youth well-being through the following domain-specific priorities.