The rapid and largely unregulated expansion of social media platforms is driving what one international NGO calls a “devastating” global mental health crisis among children and adolescents, according to a new report published Wednesday.

The annual KidsRights report, released by the Amsterdam-based NGO, found that one in seven young people aged 10 to 19 worldwide is now living with a mental health disorder, and suicide remains one of the leading causes of death in older teens.

The global suicide rate stands at six per 100,000 among adolescents aged 15 to 19, a figure the group says is likely under-reported due to widespread stigma.

“This year’s report is a wake-up call that we cannot ignore any longer,” said Marc Dullaert, chairman of KidsRights.

“The mental health crisis among our children has reached a tipping point, exacerbated by the unchecked expansion of social media platforms that prioritise engagement over child safety.”

Link between social media use, suicide attempts

The report highlights a clear correlation between heavy or problematic social media use and increased risk of suicide attempts. KidsRights said that while awareness of the issue is growing, it has yet to translate into effective global action.

It emphasized that digital platforms continue to operate in ways that expose minors to toxic content, peer pressure, and addictive algorithms, all without robust safeguards.

Although some governments have taken steps to regulate access, KidsRights warned against extreme or “blanket bans” on social media for youth, such as legislation recently passed in Australia to restrict access for users under 16.

“Such blanket bans may infringe on children’s civil and political rights,” the report stated, noting that access to age-appropriate information and digital participation are part of international child rights frameworks.

NGO calls for global regulation, education reform

Rather than imposing bans, KidsRights is calling for coordinated international action that includes: (1) Global child rights impact assessments for all social media platforms; (2) Stronger digital literacy education in schools; and (3) Specialized mental health training for professionals working with youth.

The organization stressed the need for a systemic overhaul in how social media platforms are evaluated and regulated when it comes to young users.

The report also referenced the widespread popularity of the recent Netflix mini-series Adolescence, which dramatized the darker aspects of teen life online. While the show helped bring attention to the issue, Dullaert warned that awareness alone will not solve the crisis.

“The mini-series demonstrated global awareness of these issues, but awareness alone is insufficient,” he said. “We need concrete action to ensure that the digital revolution serves to enhance, not endanger, the wellbeing of the world’s 2.2 billion children.”

“The time for half-measures is over.”