Young people want more support in digital health education, according to international study

Digital literacy lessons should become a feature of school curricula, academics say, because of the high level of health-related technology being used by young people.

Researchers from the UK universities of Bath and the University of New South Wales, Australia, found that more than 70% of young people are using apps, YouTube videos and other technology to track and manage their health.

In what is thought to be the first study of its kind, the academics say their findings highlight risks and opportunities for young people but suggest that more needs to be done to expand digital literacy lessons at school to focus on health.

Their recently published report with the Wellcome Trust, Digital Health Generation, describes young people in the UK and globally as ‘growing up in a time when healthcare is increasingly turning towards digital tools’.

The survey of more than 1000 young people found that children were accessing digital health technologies from a very young age. Three quarters of respondents owned their first mobile or tablet between the ages of 8–11 years, and 70% said they used these devices for health purposes in relation to fitness or dieting.

According to the report, the growth of these technologies presents challenges in terms of data collection, security and ownership, and in how young people navigate the multiple and sometimes competing health advice and guidance. Schools should be supported in educating young people about digital health as part of the health curriculum.

‘In extreme cases, the report said, parents or others have intervened to stop young people from using fitness and dieting apps because of their perceived harmful effects.’

The report points to the significant growth in recent years of a range of websites, blogs, social platforms, apps and wearable technologies accessed and used by young people for health purposes, as well as a surge in their use during lockdown this year. These include performance and activity-measuring devices, such as Fitbit and Strava, as well as dieting apps and YouTube videos.

Many of these technologies focus on promoting ‘healthy lifestyles’ and can provide young people with important information on their health. However, despite their proliferation, there are currently no guidelines for their safe use, and young people say they need more support.

Among the concerns voices by young people was they would not be able to recognise if they were over-exercising or dieting too much, and that this might lead to eating disorders or over-exercising. In extreme cases, the report said, parents or others have intervened to stop young people from using fitness and dieting apps because of their perceived harmful effects.

Lead researcher Professor Emma Rich, of the Department for Health at the University of Bath, said: “Our findings suggest young people need help in navigating a fast-paced, fast-changing online environment.

“Digital health education should promote learning that will benefit young people in ways that help them feel better prepared to manage their online health identities, particularly in relation to social media. Educational policymakers need to take notice of this specific issue in order to update and expand current provision within the curriculum.

“This trend in online digital health technologies will only continue to increase and we need to ensure young people have the skills and know-how to best cope.”