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Does the internet damage children's mental health?

11 November 2016

On Tuesday 15 November, the Communications Committee inquiry into children and the internet examines issues surrounding mental health, as well as the suitability of material online. The Committee puts questions to mental health experts, as well as content monitoring bodies the Advertising Standards Authority and the British Board of Film Classification.

Background

The Committee's investigation looks into the risks and dangers presented to children by the internet, as well as the benefits, and also online governance and regulation.

Witnesses

Tuesday 15 November, Committee Room 2, Palace of Westminster

At 3.30pm

  • David Austin OBE, Chief Executive Officer, British Board of Film Classification
  • Malcolm Phillips, Regulatory Policy Manager, Committee of Advertising Practice

At 4.30pm

  • Dr Nihara Krause, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, stem4
  • Dr Marc Bush, Chief Policy Adviser, YoungMinds

Areas of discussion

The Committee will ask the first panel about:

  • issues such as self-regulation
  • classification by age, and
  • advertising awareness among children.

The second panel may be questioned about:

  • the connection between internet use and mental health
  • risks of habit-forming behaviour, and
  • the differences between the genders when it comes to mental health issues.

Further information

Image: iStockphoto