The Emotional and Mental Health of Children and Young People

Part of 2. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:21 pm on 15 January 2019.

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Photo of David Melding David Melding Conservative 2:21, 15 January 2019

First Minister, I join you in commending the work of Lynne Neagle and her committee, which I think has been key in this area. Can I highlight the increasing pressures caused by internet use, particularly social media? Children in the UK now spend more time on the internet than any other country apart from Chile in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and we are way above the average of the OECD. I think these are causing pressures that a lot of other people, like parents and teachers, are possibly unaware of. And I'm afraid we are now seeing some extreme events as well as a result of this, sometimes. So, we really need to ensure that we have a good policy in giving our young people the sort of assistance they need to use these wonderful new tools responsibly.