Four OnSide Youth Zones in London are calling for better alternatives to smartphone usage among young people. This call is based on new research from youth charity OnSide, revealing that 21% of 11-18 year-olds across London spend most of their free time on their phones.
The study, titled Generation Isolation, surveyed 5,213 11-18 year-olds in England in partnership with YouGov. It shows that smartphone use is the most dominant free time activity for young people in London, with 24% spending most of their free time on their phone.
The four Youth Zones in London – Future in Barking and Dagenham, Unitas in Barnet, Legacy in Croydon and WEST in Hammersmith & Fulham – are part of OnSide’s network of 15 Youth Zones and provide support and activities for over 12,778 young people in London. Responding to the report’s findings, the four Youth Zones are calling for better, real-life alternatives to smartphone dependency.
The report shows that 52% of young people in London who spend the most time on their devices would like to reduce their screen time, but 46% do not know how to break the habit. Additionally, 51% of young people in London reported experiencing high or very high levels of loneliness, while 56% reported high or very high levels of anxiety.
To address these issues, the four Youth Zones are calling for every young person to have access to high-quality youth centers and dedicated youth workers who can help them build face-to-face connections and engage in real-life experiences that are more compelling than the lure of a smartphone.
The report was released in conjunction with National Youth Work Week, an initiative aimed at raising awareness of the importance of youth work and youth workers. It highlights the role of youth clubs in enabling young people to build face-to-face connections, develop skills, and resilience. The majority of young people who attend a youth club in London (95%) say it has made a positive difference in their lives.
Maria, 13, from Thornton Heath, has been attending OnSide’s Legacy Youth Zone for a year and says, “My phone is my baby, I spend most of my free time on it, I feel anxious if I don’t have it. I would feel lonely without it.” She also mentioned that being at Legacy Youth Zone has helped her make new friends and develop new skills.
Commenting on the findings, Robin Moss, Chief Executive at Unitas, Barnet Youth Zone said, “Today’s “Generation Isolation” report has good and bad news. The challenge is that young people are lonely, isolated, anxious and spend huge amounts of time on screens. But the report highlights a powerful solution: youth centres and youth workers.”
OnSide’s Chief Executive, Jamie Masraff, added, “Without the provision of affordable, safe places to flourish outside of school, we risk a generation becoming adults who struggle to exist in a real-world environment, riddled with social anxiety and lacking in social skills. Youth provision is the untapped solution to the challenges outlined in Generation Isolation – it must become a right and reality for all young people.”
To read the full Generation Isolation report, visit: www.onsideyouthzones.org/generationisolation.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.