• Traditional issues (money, trust, friendships and shyness) are the top
  causes of teenage loneliness rather than technology-led factors
• 1 in 10 teenagers said that social media and the internet has made
  them feel unhappy about themselves but two thirds of teenagers (64%)
  have never had a negative experience when using technology
• 70% of parents worry about their children’s use of tech, but only a
  minority (30%) of parents surveyed use protection controls and software
• 41% of parents have never discussed loneliness with their teenagers so
  TalkTalk has partnered with Internet Matters to develop advice and
  support for parents on how to start a dialogue with young people on
  this sensitive topic

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Half of teens in the UK (48%) think that social media and the internet
makes them feel less lonely while only a quarter (26%) of their parents
agree. According to TalkTalk’s Teenage
Loneliness and Technology Report, there is a stark divide within
families over the role technology can play in either improving or
worsening feelings of loneliness in teenagers.

The study, which looks into both parents and their own teenagers’
attitudes to technology and loneliness, interviewed more than 2,000
young people aged 13-16 years old and more than 2,000 parents of the
same teenagers.

The study found teenagers were far more optimistic than their parents
about the positive impact of technology. Half (51%) of 13-16 year olds
said that during times when they have felt lonely, technology has also
provided a solution to their loneliness: they have made new friends,
received support and advice, and received positive comments while being
online. However, worryingly of the teenagers that did feel lonely, just
under a third (31%) admitted to not having discussed their feelings with
anyone.

Startlingly, across the UK, parents felt lonelier than their teenage
children – which may be impacting how they advise and talk to their
children about the issue. 28% of parents said they felt lonely often,
always or some of the time, compared to 21% of young people.

Traditional issues still driving youth loneliness

Notably, the top four causes of youth loneliness, according to both
parents and teenagers, were issues relating to money, trust, friendships
and shyness. This suggests that traditional economic and social issues
are the main factors driving loneliness among teenagers, while digital
technology-led issues linked to the online world contribute less.

The top four main contributors to teenage loneliness according to
parents and teenagers:

Tristia Harrison CEO of TalkTalk comments: “I am heartened to
see that technology can, in many cases, help tackle feelings of
loneliness in young people. It is also clear that open and
regular communication between parents and their teenagers on this topic
cannot be underestimated.

“As CEO and a parent of teenage children, I’m proud that TalkTalk has
a long history of leading efforts to ensure the internet is a safer
place. But as the technology constantly evolves, it presents new issues
and challenges. As an industry, we must continually reassess what more
we can be doing to understand and mitigate online risks, so our young
people have the best possible experience online.”

Parents don’t know how to engage with their teenagers’ tech experience

The report reveals that most parents (70%) worry about their teenagers’
use of technology. Yet over a third (37%) felt ill-equipped or are
simply unsure how to help manage or navigate their teenagers’ tech and
online use safely. This lack of confidence is leading to inaction among
parents towards their teenagers’ safe use of the internet.

Surprisingly, despite parents’ concerns, the report found that:

• 41% have never discussed feelings of loneliness with their teenage
  children
• Over two thirds of parents (70%) do not use parent protection controls
  and software
• 76% do not approve apps and websites before their children use them
• 65% do not limit the hours their teenager spends using technology and
  social media

CEO of Internet Matters Carolyn Bunting said: “The research
reiterates how teenagers don’t differentiate between their online and
offline world and they turn to devices to help them feel connected and
supported.

“By being in tune with their child’s digital life, parents can feel
empowered to help them take advantage of all the opportunities that the
online world has to offer.

“Having regular, open and honest conversations and getting to grips
with the tech they’re using, is the easiest way for parents to create an
effective and positive online environment for their children.”

Tech for good or bad?

Our report found that a third (36%) of teenagers said that they have
experienced a time when technology has had a negative effect on them.
Loneliness caused by not having many friends on social media was cited
by 12% of teenagers.

The study however found that parents recognised the positive social
impact technology and the internet could have on their teenage children.
Two thirds (67%) of parents said that their teenage child had told them
about positive experiences using technology – a figure that jumps to
over three quarters (77%) according to young people themselves.

In addition, a third (33%) of parents said their teenagers’ use of
technology and the internet had improved social skills, 27% believed it
helped teenage children make friends and a further 19% said it helped
their teenager overcome anxieties when talking to friends.

Dr Rebecca Nowland, Research Fellow University of Central
Lancashire Faculty of Health and Well-Being, said: “The
impacts of technology on loneliness may not be the same for each
generation. New social technologies are important for young people to
connect with their friends. The survey findings show that teenagers see
social digital technologies as a way to reduce loneliness. Although,
parents are able to see the positives of young people’s technology use,
there is still a digital divide between the generations. Worries for
parents centre on not feeling equipped or having sufficient knowledge to
keep youth safe online.”

Call to action: TalkTalk is working on the following initiatives to
help parents and young people harness the benefits of technology.

• TalkTalk is working with Internet Matters to help guide parents keep
  their children safe online
• Our parental filter, HomeSafe, allows parents to control what content
  their children access. The packaging on TalkTalk’s new routers’ (the
  Wi-Fi Hub) signposts to Internet Matters, reminding parents that
  support is available on online safety
• TalkTalk has signed the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial
  Strategy (BEIS) Employer Pledge on loneliness which is a statement of
  action to prevent loneliness at work for employees

The full Teenage Loneliness and Technology Report can
be found here.

– ENDS –

Notes to editors

Methodology

Based on a survey of 2,005 parents and 2,005 of their children aged
13-16 in the UK carried out by Censuswide between March and April 2019.
Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society
which is based on the ESOMAR principles.

Media enquiries

TalkTalk’s spokesperson, CEO Tristia Harrison, is available for
comment/ interview

About TalkTalk

TalkTalk is the UK’s leading value for money connectivity provider. It
believes that simple, affordable, reliable and fair connectivity should
be available to everyone.

Since entering the market in the early 2000s, it has a proud history as
an innovative challenger brand. Today, it provides landline, broadband,
TV and mobile services to over four million customers. It operates
Britain’s biggest unbundled broadband network, covering 96% of the
population, supplying services to consumers through the TalkTalk brand,
to businesses through TalkTalk Business, and by wholesaling to resellers.

TalkTalk also has a long history of leading industry efforts to ensure
the internet is a safer place for children. It is a founding member and
a proud partner of Internet Matters, an organisation that provides
information, support and advice for parents and carers across the UK
about digital safety.

About Dr Rebecca Nowland

Dr Rebecca Nowland is a Research Fellow working in the Child and Family
Health Research Group, referred to as SEaRCH (Supporting Evaluation and
Research in Child and family Health) within the School of Nursing at the
University of Central Lancashire. She is a Chartered member of the
British Psychological Society as a Teacher and Researcher in Psychology.
Rebecca’s research interests centre around childhood and adolescent
mental health and well-being. She is particularly interested in the
impact that mental well-being has on physical health and social
cognition. Much of her research to date has examined in the influence of
loneliness in children and young people on physical and mental health.
Recent projects have involved examining the influence of social media on
health and well-being in adolescents and social influences on
self-harming and suicidal behaviour.

About Internet Matters

Internet Matters (internetmatters.org)
is a not-for-profit, industry-funded members body that helps families
stay safe online, providing resources for parents, carers and
educational professionals. It was established in 2014 by BT, Sky,
TalkTalk and Virgin Media and its members include BBC, Google, Samsung,
Three, Facebook, Huawei, ByteDance and Supercell. It is a member of the
Executive Board of UKCIS (UK Council for Internet Safety) and an
industry expert working with The Royal Foundation Taskforce on the
Prevention of Cyberbullying, founded by the Duke of Cambridge. It works
with partners from across the industry, government and third sector to
raise awareness and provide advice on the issues affecting children in
the digital age, including cyberbullying, screen time, digital
resilience, extreme content, privacy and exploitation.

Contacts

Instinctif Partners
[email protected]
020
7457 2020

TalkTalk
Dafydd Wyn
Corporate Communications Manager
[email protected]
020
3417 1862