Misinformation leading cause of stress for youths on social media: UNICEF

Two in three young people reported "too much fake news and misinformation" as the most significant cause of stress on social media in a new anonymous poll of children and young people in Bangladesh by UNICEF. 

Bullying and negative comments were cited as the most stressful experience by a further one seventh of respondents, slightly more for girls, while one out of seven also pointed to seeing harmful or upsetting content as the main cause of stress when using social media, said a press release.

Almost 29,000 responded to the poll through UNICEF platform U-Report in Bangladesh. Among other issues, it asked for opinions about rules governing content on social media. 

While a minority, 23% of respondents said rules "might stop people from saying what they really think", more than double that number, 52% thought that "rules are important to stop harmful behaviors like bullying and hate speech." 

When asked what might happen if rules were relaxed, a staggering 79% said vulnerable groups in their community would be harmed, identifying ethnic or religious minorities, 30%, children and youth, 26% and women and girls, 23% among those they think would be targeted.

"We already know from painful experience, that misinformation and hate speech don't just exist online - they can fuel real-world consequences, putting children at risk of mental and physical harm, especially children that already face discrimination like girls and minorities," said Rana Flowers, UNICEF representative in Bangladesh. 

"Young people in Bangladesh know digital spaces give positive opportunities for connection, learning, and open debate, but they're also weighing up the risks now, as a lack of rules and regulations make these spaces feel unsafe for some."

More than half of poll respondents said they had noticed changes to the kind of content they are seeing on social media, with mixed responses on the impact this was having - 17% of respondents said they were feeling less safe online.

"The responsibility belongs to all of us, including policy makers, regulators, the big tech companies, educators, parents and caregivers, and the young people using the platforms – to ensure children and young people can access accurate and reliable information online, know how to distinguish truth from misinformation, and safely navigate online spaces," emphasised Flowers.  

UNICEF is committed to supporting environments where children in Bangladesh are safe from harmful content, hate and discrimination. In the increasingly complex, globalized digital environment, UNICEF continues to engage with relevant actors to advocate for safe, inclusive digital environments for children and young people, said a press release.

UNICEF called for urgent actions from policy makers, regulators and technology companies with a presence in Bangladesh to facilitate a safer digital space.

The actions it recommended are moderation systems and policies that protect children and uphold their right to safety and dignity online; safe, inclusive, and empowering digital spaces, where every child can express themselves without fear; and digital literacy education for young people, equipping them with cyber safety skills needed to critically assess online information, identify misinformation, and engage in responsible digital interactions.