Online communities are an essential part of the modern landscape. They can offer opportunities to interact with people across the globe, keep in touch with friends and learn things about the world. Online, young people find new interests, develop skills and access different kinds of support. But this new digital connectivity creates challenges for young people that adults don’t often understand.

In talking about social media, Youth Out Loud! members reflected on the pressure to always be connected. Apps like BeReal and Snapchat encourage users to post regularly and maintain ‘streaks’ by exchanging messages and photos with contacts every day. This contact is often treated like a social obligation, and the pressure to maintain constant connectivity can prevent them from taking a break from their digital lives.

Youth Out Loud! members shared how notifications could be disruptive in their daily life. Facing the pressure to respond and always be reachable, the pull of a ‘ping’ draws them back to their phones and gets in the way of enjoying ordinary activities or completing tasks. Feeling compelled to reply quickly or check updates makes it difficult to stay focused, and when they are back on their phones, they struggle to drag themselves away again.

The group also talked about the impact of comparing themselves with the images and lives they see on their screens. Constantly having idealised images of other people to compare themselves to impacts their self-esteem and body image. They also talked about online bullying and trolling, where content and negative comments are posted to deliberately provoke or upset others.

Influencer culture came under scrutiny, with members sharing how their peers have gotten into physical fights over celebrity-endorsed products and the concerns they have about toxic attitudes and views promoted by popular influencers. With altered and fabricated content being easier than ever to produce, the group talked about how they were left not knowing who or what to trust, if they chose to trust anyone at all.

The way that young people connect with one another and maintain friendships today is completely different to previous generations. Members talked about how their parents and guardians don’t really understand their experiences, how these apps work, or why it matters so much to them.

This lack of understanding creates problems when young people look to them for advice and guidance. The disconnect between what the adults in their lives experienced growing up and what young people experience today makes it difficult for young people to feel supported and understood.