A comprehensive public health approach is needed to study the impact of digital technology on health

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Source: BMJ

Original: http://www.bmj.com/content/392/bmj.s446.short?rss=1...

Published: 2026-03-10T07:31:13-07:00

According to the article, a comprehensive public health approach is needed to study the impact of digital technologies on health, especially among young people.[1] A recent government report entitled "Understanding the impact of smartphones and social media on children and young people" was seen as a significant step forward, but from a public health perspective, it represented a missed opportunity.[1] The article points out that despite years of scientific study, the available evidence on this important social issue is inconclusive.[1] The author criticizes the scientific motivational system, which failed to correctly anticipate research needs and did not reward the appropriate type of research in this area.[1] The article emphasizes that understanding the impact of digital technologies on health is one of the most important social challenges of our time.[1]