The “uncontrolled growth” of social media platforms is leading to an unprecedented global mental health crisis among children and teenagers, a non-governmental organization working with children has said, calling for urgent coordinated action worldwide.

The KidsRights report states that one in seven children and young people aged between 10 and 19 suffer from mental health problems, and the global suicide rate is 6 per 100,000 people aged between 15 and 19.

According to the Amsterdam-based group, even these high figures represent “the tip of the iceberg,” as suicides are underreported due to stigma.

“This year's report is a warning signal that we can no longer ignore,” said Mark Dullaert, chairman of KidsRights, quoted by AFP.

“The mental health crisis... among our children has reached a critical point, exacerbated by the uncontrolled growth of social media platforms that prioritize engagement over the safety of children,” he added.

The report said that so-called “problematic” social media use is on the rise, with a direct link between intensive internet use and suicide attempts.

However, the group warned that outright bans are not the solution.

Australia has passed a law banning social media use by people under 16.

“Such blanket bans may violate children's civil and political rights,” including access to information, the report said.

The group called for “comprehensive assessments of the impact on children's rights” at the global level for social media platforms, better education for children, and better training for mental health professionals.

The report takes advantage of the popularity of the Netflix sensation “Adolescence,” which highlights some of the toxic material children view online.

The miniseries “demonstrates global awareness of these issues, but awareness alone is not enough,” Dujardins said.

“We need concrete action to ensure that the digital revolution serves to improve, not threaten, the well-being of 2.2 billion children worldwide. The time for half-measures is over,” he concluded. | BGNES