New data released by Mental Health Foundation finds widespread experiences of harmful online content among young people
Most young people found education on keeping themselves safe lacking, as the Foundation calls for more support for schools to deliver online safety lessons
More needs to be done in schools to help young people navigate online communities safely, the Mental Health Foundation has said. The call comes as new research, released to mark Mental Health Awareness Week and its theme of ‘community’, highlights how witnessing harmful content online has become a commonplace experience for young people.
The survey of 2157 young people across the UK, conducted by Savanta, found that most people aged 16 – 21 have experienced online content that they found harmful or disturbing, with 68% of young people reporting this.
More than a third (35%) of young people have seen suicide or self-harm content online, and more than a quarter (28%) have been exposed to pro-eating disorder content. Other common forms of harmful or disturbing content viewed online by people aged 16-21 were racism or discrimination (42%), bullying (40%), and misogynistic content (32%).
When asked which online communities had made individuals feel unsafe, two thirds (65%) said they’d felt unsafe on social media communities such as Instagram, Snapchat, X/Twitter, and Facebook. A third (32%) said the same of messaging communities on platforms like Discord or WhatsApp.
Commenting on the findings, Mark Rowland, Chief Executive at Mental Health Foundation, said:
“The scale of harm being caused to young people by negative online communities is one of the biggest looming threats to young people’s mental health.
“Too many young people are being harmed or disturbed by what they see online, which threatens to have a serious impact on them. In particular, the exposure to suicide, self-harm, and eating disorder encouragement is a grave reflection of the danger harmful online communities pose. We also know from long-established research that experiencing bullying and racism – the most common forms of online harm reported in our polling – are directly linked with worse mental health, and are compounded by experiences of growing inequality and financial pressures that disproportionally affect young people.
“With online communities being so ingrained into everyday life, we urgently need to see more done to help people avoid negative online spaces, and instead promote the positive online communities we know benefit mental health. This starts with the government helping schools to deliver better online safety education, and making sure young people are prepared for a life that is increasingly online.”
The charity is also highlighting that membership of healthy online communities can bring significant mental health benefits for young people through friendship and connection. Around three quarters (76%) of young people reported feeling very or somewhat connected with others through online communities, and two thirds (63%) said they’d been in an online community which had made them feel more confident or supported in who they are.
To support young people in navigating online communities in a healthy way, and help them avoid harmful content, the Mental Health Foundation is calling for the government to update its guidance for schools and make sure teachers have access to good quality, up-to-date knowledge and resources so that they can teach effectively. The review of the statutory guidance for PSHE, which is due shortly, provides an opportunity for the UK government to create a new focus on this important and emerging issue.
The polling revealed one in ten young people (10%) received no online safety education whatsoever. Among those who have, nearly three in five (58%) found it was not helpful enough or not helpful at all.
Points to note on the research
This polling was conducted by Savanta on behalf of the Mental Health Foundation. Savanta interviewed a nationally representative audience of those aged 16-21 years old of 2,157 individuals between 9th and 24th April 2025. Savanta is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Data was weighted to be representative of the UK population by age, sex, region and social grade. Full data available on request.
Online communities were defined by the Mental Health Foundation for the purposes of this research as “any online spaces where you engage with others – whether you’re reading, watching, chatting, or posting.”