Stop following me. With this new campaign, the charity Global Action Plan UK wants to end online targeted advertisements to people under 18. The overexposure to stereotypes used by adverts to make children believe that they need products to fit in or to look a certain way contributes to anxiety, depression, self-harm, eating disorders and body dysmorphia among youth.

The campaign taps into what is gaining momentum in society: the awareness of the poor mental state of the youth and the role social media and smartphones play in this. Even though mental health issues and their causes are complex and multifaceted, it is remarkable that since smartphones became affordable and part of our everyday lives in 2012, there has been a significant rise in mental issues among young people. 

In “The Anxious Generation,” social psychologist Jonathan Haidt argues that the continuous access to social media, online video games, porn and other internet-based activities has ignited a wildfire of anxiety and depression among Generation Z.

Even though social media and smartphones have long been suspected for their harmful effects on teens’ happiness, in recent years more and more experts see their suspicions confirmed through new studies into the link. Are smartphones and social media shaping the mental landscape of our youth more than we realize, and what steps can brands and organizations take to mitigate their potentially harmful effects? Read along on our blog post here.