Television vs. Youth Mental Health

In the United Kingdom, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), the equivalent of our Arcom, conducted a study of 2,000 young people aged 12 to 21 on the impact of television programs on their mental health. The study revealed that 45% of them had already watched a film or program that negatively impacted their mental well-being. Among them, 46% stated that this feeling of unease was not just temporary. 40% said they felt sad or emotionally affected, 39% disturbed or anxious, and 28% had difficulty sleeping afterward. As a result, 30% of these young people chose to avoid this type of content in the future. While 55% of respondents said they had avoided or stopped watching a program they considered negative for their mental health, films and series can still be a source of joy and comfort. In fact, 73% of viewers return to certain content when they need encouragement or emotional comfort. Better tailoring content to avoid causing offense: “It is disheartening to see that more than two in five young people have had their mental well-being negatively affected by films or television programs,” said David Austin OBE, Chief Executive of the BBFC. “Among those who were affected without being aware of the problematic elements before viewing, 70% said the impact would have been less if they had known beforehand. This clearly shows that young people want to make informed decisions about what they watch.” Clear and transparent age ratings and content guidance are essential tools that empower them to do so. Films, videos, and websites can have a significant impact on our lives, and we want that impact to be positive.