Recognition, prevention and management of ‘digital harm’ (24 January 2024)

Summary

The digital world continues to evolve and is apparent in all aspects of daily life. For children and young people, their online life is as real to them as their in-person life. Health professionals urgently need to update their knowledge and awareness of the positive and negative impacts of the myriad of online content and how this is viewed and used by children and young people. Digital harm can contribute to multiple clinical presentations and paediatricians must ask about online life in consultations and be able to provide holistic digital safety advice, while recognising serious digital harm requiring safeguarding input.

This article will introduce the main areas of harm and how to include assessment in routine clinical practice. It will equip paediatricians to offer advice and safeguard children and young people and offer resources and links to further learning.