Why Digital Wellbeing Must Be a Whole-School Priority
Next month, Coram Life Education will convene a formal briefing at the House of Lords, gathering sector leaders to explore one of the most urgent issues in children’s development: the growing impact of digital devices on health and wellbeing.
Through our direct work in over 2,800 schools, we reach more than 600,000 children annually with Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education. This depth of engagement gives us a unique insight into the rapidly evolving needs of children and the growing concern around digital wellbeing.
Smartphones and other digital technologies are now embedded in children’s daily lives. But emerging evidence paints a stark picture: these devices are affecting every aspect of children’s physical, mental, emotional, and social development. This is not just a tech issue—it’s a whole-health issue.
There is now compelling evidence that digital devices—smartphones in particular, are affecting every aspect of children's physical and mental health. Parents often struggle to regulate screen time or shield their children from harmful content, especially when faced with technology designed to be addictive. Apps and social media platforms are engineered to trigger dopamine responses, keeping users engaged for longer and making it harder to disconnect.
This shift comes at a significant developmental cost, with lasting effects on childhood. Time spent online displaces activities that nurture creativity, social competence, and physical health. Instead of play-based learning and real-world connection, children are increasingly immersed in digital environments that can isolate and overwhelm.
Schools and curriculum content have an important role in supporting children’s development of critical thinking skills and helping them become thoughtful, informed digital citizens. Teachers need time, training and resources to guide pupils through this complex and rapidly evolving landscape.
Health professionals now assert that the impact of digital devices is a whole-child health issue. Recent findings highlight the scale of the issue:
- Addiction & distraction: 25% of young adults show signs of problematic smartphone use.
- Online risks: Sextortion is the fastest-growing crime against children; self-generated abuse imagery among under-10s has risen 66% since 2022.
- Mental health: Rates of mental illness have surged since smartphones became widespread in 2010.
- Social health: Time spent with friends has dropped 65% since 2010, despite increased digital connectivity.
- Physical health: Childhood myopia and obesity are rising, while real-world experiences essential for development are being blocked.
Children themselves are calling for change. Many support stricter age limits for social media, especially those from vulnerable backgrounds. They’ve seen harmful content, often don’t report it, and lose trust in platforms that fail to act. Despite knowing the rules, many still access platforms before they’re old enough—often using VPNs to bypass restrictions. This highlights a troubling gap between law and practice.
Coram Life Education is calling for a coordinated, compassionate response. Our recommendations include:
- National restrictions on phone use during the school day.
- Raising the minimum age for social media to 16.
- Screen-free early years education.
- Mandatory digital literacy training for teachers.
- A whole-school approach that restores creativity, connection, and belonging.
- Clear guidelines for schools’ use of EdTech—including AI.
Children deserve more than passive protection—they need active support to navigate the digital world with confidence, curiosity, and care. Together, schools, families, and policymakers can help restore the embodied, meaningful connections that every child needs to thrive.