Digital support networks

Discover how social media and metaverse could actually be good for young people's mental health.Learn more about the initiatives changing the game.

CULTURE

TECHNOLOGY

3 MINS READ

DATE

SEPTEMBER 9, 2023

AUTHOR

World of Us

The World of Us Info editorial team comprises a global network of creative minds, makers, writers and industry experts. The team strives to research with enquiry and openness at its core, while constantly searching for opportunities to exchange knowledge and expand as a community.

It’s not surprising to learn that young people aged 16-24 now spend over 5 hours a day on social media in 2023. But it could be surprising to learn just how and why this level of access could positively impact mental health. This exposure has often been reported to impact feelings of social isolation and social comparison, with the growing community benefits and possibilities for large support networks being left out of the conversation. So let's look more closely at the positive opportunities for change and growth developing in the online world.

The Jed Foundation is a US non-profit focused on empowering teenagers and young adults through “building resilience and life skills and promoting social connectedness.” As part of the important work they are doing, Jed published a report in July 2023 offering actionable guidance on how we can tap into a “metaverse ecosystem that centres the rights and well-being of youth.”

Initiatives such as Games for Change and Connected Learning Lab are diving deeper into creating opportunities for awareness, connection and communication within the gaming industry and game development.

Games for Change hosted a panel in August centred on the relationship between a metaverse and mental health. Industry experts and mental health specialists came together to offer concerns and solutions for a world needing greater connectivity in the digital space. Read on to discover some of the engaging and empowering ways in which young people can utilise a metaverse to enhance their IRL experiences.

Agency

One of the most accessible tools for young people navigating a developing digital world is social media. Young people (16-24) have increasingly been using platforms such as mobile health apps (64%) and 87% have gone online for mental health information. These digital tools offer young people a feeling of agency and connectedness over their mental health, along with a wealth of information online. Developers are beginning to tap into the importance of working with mental health professionals and to create initiatives (such as with Deepwell) that are specifically angled towards supporting positive mental health and open communication. With the numerous metaverse options available in the current market (to include social media platforms, gamin...