In this guide
What is digital wellbeing?
In simple terms, digital wellbeing refers to children’s developmental, emotional, physical and social health online.
Developmental wellbeing
Developmental wellbeing refers to children’s cognitive abilities and personal growth. It also includes achievement in education and learning along with financial responsibility.
Positive developmental wellbeing can look like:
- Using the online space to learn new skills;
- Developing thinking, collaboration and problem-solving skills (like with playing video games);
- Understanding how their data is used in online spaces;
- Doing homework.
As a part of helping children improve their developmental wellbeing, parents need to manage risks from exposure to misinformation, conspiracy theories and security breaches. You can do this by helping them develop their critical thinking skills and encouraging them to research claims on their own.
Emotional wellbeing
Emotional wellbeing is a child’s ability to cope with stress and setbacks online. It means having the space and opportunity to flourish and find purpose and autonomy.
Positive emotional wellbeing can look like:
- Exploring opportunities for creativity and self-expression;
- Building self-validation and self-worth;
- Using apps or platforms to help them support and manage their emotions;
- Engaging in enjoyable activities such a developing in video game worlds.
To support positive emotional wellbeing, parents must manage risks of low self-worth, addiction and emotional distress. Radicalisation, self-harm and exposure to extreme pornography negatively impact children’s emotional wellbeing as well.
Physical wellbeing
Physical wellbeing relates to physical safety and health. This can include developing physical skills and access to accessibility technology.
Physical wellbeing can look like:
- Maintaining a balance between sedentary and active behaviours;
- Accessing supportive or assistive technologies;
- Using the internet, including apps and platforms, to support healthy lifestyle choices;
- Sharing or learning activities for wellbeing such as sport, exercises and relaxation.
Risks to physical wellbeing that parents should look out for include putting sedentary activities ahead of physical activities. It could also look like sleep disruption and unhealthy attitudes towards food and exercise.
Social wellbeing
Social wellbeing refers to a child’s participation in the community and being an active citizen. It includes healthy online interactions and developing good relationships and communication.
This can look like:
- Building relationships with people who offer care and support. This includes significant others and friendships;
- Understanding when online and offline relationships should be integrated and kept separate;
- Healthy and open communication;
- Accessing communities of people who share similarities;
- Maintaining an age-appropriate online presence.
Risks of negative social wellbeing could look like experiencing or exhibiting bullying behaviours. It could also look like being the target of grooming behaviours and exploitation. Other risks include FOMO (the fear of missing out), withdrawing into themselves and developing antisocial behaviours.