Greetings from #ICA26!
During the event Team PROMISE:
- Shared updates on WP2 scoping review of policy measures
- Joined the pre-conference, "Children’s Rights Under Pressure in a Digital World"
- Met with partners @sonialivingstone.bsky.social and @masurphil.bsky.social
- Explored Cape Town
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Subscribe to the 3 + 3 Newsletter to follow PROMISE updates (promiseproject.univie.ac.at) (2/2)
Key youth-focused elements include:
- safer digital environments by design
- protection from harmful content
- preater transparency & accountability
- empowerment of young users to navigate digital spaces critically.
This language signals a shift beyond protection to participation. (2/3)
The Spring 2026 edition of the 3+3 Newsletter is out now (massmailer.univie.ac.at/action/mlr/p...).
This issue covers:
- Recent changes in European youth digital policy,
- PROMISE at the CHANSE-Norface Conference,
- The PhD & student researchers behind PROMISE (1/2)
At PROMISE, this aligns closely with our work:
- generating evidence for policy
- working collaboratively with young people
- supporting healthier digital environments.
(3/3)
On 8 April, the @coe.int adopted a new Recommendation on online safety & user empowerment (CM/Rec(2026)4).
Notably, it places strong emphasis on young people’s rights, safety, and participation online.
📄 Full text: search.coe.int/cm#{%22CoEId... (1/3)
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Great report by @orbenamy.bsky.social, @georgiaturner.bsky.social et al on the current evidence base of social media bans/reductions on adolescent mental heath.
Since January, Prof @orbenamy.bsky.social has given evidence to three UK Parliament select committees (Culture, Media & Sport; Science, Innovation & Technology; Education), helping bring research into policy debates on social media and young people.
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
New from @orbenamy.bsky.social on BOLD (Jacobs Foundation):
“What is the recommended screen limit for young children - and why?”
“Many parents feel they are making high-stakes decisions with very little clear guidance"
A look at the evidence & its limits.
🔗 boldscience.org/whats-the-re...
Since January, Professor Amy Orben Buckley has contributed oral evidence to three House of Commons Select Committee inquiries:
· Culture, Media and Sport Committee (13 Jan 2026)
· Science, I...
🚨 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS 🚨
1/ We invite proposals for posters and symposia for the New Directions in Social Media Research conference at St John’s College, University of Cambridge (7–8 Dec 2026).
We especially welcome future-facing research on how the social world is changing in the digital age.
Tobias Dienlin
Digital Mental Health Group, Cambridge
Digital Mental Health Group, Cambridge
New report from the Digital Mental Health Group @MRC CBU on social media bans.
As UK debate grows, we review current evidence, key gaps, and what’s coming next to inform decision-making.
🔗 www.repository.cam.ac.uk/items/d0b4c5...
This report reviews key studies and meta-analyses that are directly relevant to those interested in the quality of evidence underlying current policy proposals for an under-16s social media ban. It outlines a review of keystone studies, and is not an exhaustive evaluation of the potential policy options available. This report also focuses specifically on mental health and well-being outcomes, as this is our team’s area of expertise. As such, other developmental or health outcomes that may be affected by social media restrictions are not reviewed here.
