Carey Oppenheim

This compelling piece by @cliffmanning.bsky.social @parentzone.org.uk and Natalie Foos at VoiceBox explores how hard it is for young people and parents to navigate autonomy and care in the era of pervasive digital technology. See our Grown Up? project bit.ly/3K1RAbE @thecyberpsyche.bsky.social

Illustration of a large blue scribbled cloud with raindrops and handwritten phrases such as “Why didn’t you like my post?”, “Could you check this for me?”, “Emails”, “Texts”, and “Add me on LinkedIn!”. Below the cloud is a smaller image of a serene outdoor scene with a tree and sunlight, overlaid with words like “Leave me alone” and “Quick Zoom”. Bottom text reads: “Deep dive report – Digital lives” with a button labelled “Read now”.

3️⃣ Support could come in different forms. Young people called for better regulation, effective content moderation, more parent involvement, consistent school policies and safer digital spaces where they can be themselves.

Read all the insights in our latest report: bit.ly/DLDDWreportl...

Illustrated flow of a person’s day linked by red arrows and demonstrating how embedded technology is in our everyday life. Starting at the top: a bed with “7:00am” noted, then a person checking a phone with a calendar and to-do list. Next, a laptop screen showing “Today’s tasks”, followed by a computer with a yoga class on the screen, and then a desk with a computer, plant, and stationery. Below, icons for social media and messaging apps connected to a smartphone. At the bottom, the same person appears again, lying in bed thinking about going on their phone. Caption reads: “Illustrations drawn from participants’ words by Lydia Hopkins design”.

2️⃣ Platforms are poorly regulated. Algorithms and online advertising often encourage addictive behaviours, intensify consumerism and leave young people frustrated by the manipulation and lack of control. Yet, some are finding ways to regain agency.

White background with Nuffield Foundation logo and “Grown up?” at the top. Two large teal quotation marks introduce workshop participant quotes. The first says a car club wouldn’t exist without social media and mentions opportunities to travel to to Isle of Wight. The second explains posting online to be recognised or stay connected, especially in social situations at school.

They told us:

1️⃣ Constant access to digital technologies is a double-edged sword. While it connects them to opportunities and communities, it can also amplify pressure, misinformation and overwhelm. For them, social media is essential to communication, making it hard to step away.

Born Connected: how Gen Z navigate their digital lives - contains powerful insights from young people across the UK ‪‪- take a look at this thread @donnamolloy.bsky.social @thecyberpsyche.bsky.social @internetmatters.bsky.social @youthfutures.bsky.social @childrenssociety.bsky.social @ncb.org.uk

3️⃣ Support could come in different forms. Young people called for better regulation, effective content moderation, more parent involvement, consistent school policies and safer digital spaces where they can be themselves.

Deep Dive Workshop: Digital Lives - Nuffield Foundation

Publication Day 🎉 today work I’ve been doing exploring and understanding the digital lives of in 14-24 year olds has been published.

To read the report and my own personal reflection on the project www.nuffieldfoundation.org/research/our...

What Gen Z do online & why, matters more than time spent on screen bit.ly/48EnYuI - see Growing Up online and Born Connected- how Gen Z navigate their digital lives. The first has the latest quant data - the second captures young people's powerful insights @adalovelaceinst.bsky.social

Young people in care are being pushed into independence far sooner than their peers, & are faring particularly badly amidst the social & economic upheaval facing Gen Z. Find out more in a new article for the Foundation's Grown up? project from Lisa Harker @nuffieldfjo.bsky.social.
ow.ly/kvLO50WntBK