There are many structural drivers of violence impacting children and young people, such as poverty, school exclusion, and racial inequity. Catch22 therefore thinks that violence impacting children and young people is preventable – not inevitable. This requires a cross-governmental approach at both national and local level, in which communities are genuinely involved.
As such, we believe that any links between social media and violence should not be understood and approached in isolation and should instead be addressed in its wider context. Preventing violence online and offline requires that not only that the structural risk factors are being addressed, but also a long-term commitment to community, trauma-informed approaches delivered by trusted adults, and services which offer holistic, tailored support such as therapy, help with jobs, help with schools, and safe, positive social media use.
To this end, Catch22 would like to make the following core recommendations to the Youth Select Committee:
1. Investment in the education and digital resilience of children and young people, in partnership with the VCS.
2. Enhancing the codes of guidance and enforcement of the Online Safety Act, particularly around age assurance, algorithm accountability, and independent compliance audits.
3. Stronger collaboration between social media platforms, VCS, and relevant statutory bodies to help to prevent violence, and in running campaigns to raise awareness amongst children and young people about the risks and legal consequences of engaging with weapon-related content.
