Intergenerational tech tensions: half of British teens believe tech makes them feel less lonely, but only a quarter of their parents agree

• 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

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, which Research Fellow from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) Dr Rebecca Nowland provided expert opinion on and completed some analyses of the data, 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:

• Not being able to take part in friends’ activities because they are too expensive
• Not being able to talk openly with others
• Not having friends that can be relied on
• Prohibitive cost of gadgets and fashion

Tristia Harrison CEO of TalkTalk commented: “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.”

Dr Nowland is the only academic to work on the project. She was consulted with regarding the design of the survey and analyses of the data, reviewed the raw data and used her extensive expertise to provide guidance and expert opinion on the findings.

She 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.”