Reports about the negative effects of so-called ’screen time’ on adolescent mental health are a daily occurrence across the British media and public conversation. But what do we actually know about the science backing up these worrying claims?

Amy Orben, College Lecturer in Psychology at Queen’s College, University of Oxford, will speak about the evidence behind recent claims in the media that teenagers are harming their mental health by spending too much time online.

Amy will give an overview of the current psychological evidence concerning digital technology and its effect on teenagers. Highlighting what we do and don’t know, she will describe a scientist’s perspective on what successful evidence-based policy approaches to teens and screens could look like.

Amy researches how social media and other digital technologies affect adolescent well-being and mental health. Her innovative work using large-scale datasets has been published in her field's leading journals; the results have put into question many long-held assumptions about the potential risks and benefits of ’screen time'.

Alongside her research, Amy campaigns for the use of improved statistical methodology in the behavioural sciences and the adoption of more transparent and open scientific practices. Amy regularly contributes to both media and policy debate, having recently given oral evidence to the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee.

A bit more about these meetings:

The Next Generation events (or TNGs as we like to call them) are aimed at creating a network of young people (under 30s) interested in ideas that are shaping our world. They’ve been going for as long as the ASI has, and have been attended by people who went on to become Cabinet Ministers, Prime Ministers, Editors, and CEOs. The Tory and Labour spinner who dated on The Thick of It met at a TNG, according to an old BBC backstory document. So whatever your politics, we just like interesting ideas and we hope you do too. It’s for under 30s, it’s informal and we normally end up at the Marquis of Granby for those of you who just want to turn up for the non-free boozing in the pub. But why would you not want to join us for the entirety of the Bacchanalia?!

Housekeeping:

Date: Tuesday, May 7th

Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm (don’t come before 6pm - we won’t let you in! Even if it’s raining… our house, our rules)

Place: 23 Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3DJ

To request a place, please email events@adamsmith.org.