Opportunities for young users on social media

The impact of social media on young people, particularly minors, is a very current and popular topic in the media and the scientific community, but also in policies. Current focus of the public discourse has been mostly on the risks that young social media users may face. However, while it is true that social media use is associated with many risks and that minors are an especially vulnerable population, this practice also offer a wide range of opportunities touching to children’s rights to access to information, education and health tools, opportunities for civic participation, new environments for play and social interaction, for self-expression and improved accessibility for children with disabilities. To have a comprehensive understanding of the impact of social media on minors, we need to consider both the risks and the opportunities. The evidence gathered in this brief shows that, alongside well documented risks, social media platforms can provide minors with a range of concrete benefits that directly support several articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child – notably the rights to education, information, participation, health and freedom of expression.