Response to link found between depression in girls and social media

This statement is in response to news that depression linked to social media is twice as high in teenage girls compared with boys.

Research by University College London also found that 40 per cent of girls had experienced online harassment or bullying compared to 25 per cent of boys, while 40 per cent of girls reported their sleep often being disrupted compared to 28 per cent of boys.

Lucy Russell, Head of Girls' Rights and Youth at global children's charity Plan International UK said:

"The latest findings by University College London support our own research that found girls are significantly more likely than boys to be harassed and bullied online. We found nearly half (48 per cent) of girls aged 11-18 in the UK have experienced some form of abuse on social media.

"It’s alarming that these negative experiences are destroying girls' self confidence, causing them to have sleepless nights and leading them to experience depressive symptoms. Girls tell us that they want the digital space to be somewhere they can share ideas and find their voice without feeling threatened, but with little support they are withdrawing from the online world."

She added, "We urge the government to consider these findings when forming the new relationships and sex education curriculum for schools which is due out next year. Girls especially need to learn how to navigate the digital world and about the risks of social media, but in parallel understand that they have a right to a voice online."