UEFA highlights football’s role in safeguarding children’s health from digital addiction
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Article summary
Michele Uva, UEFA’s director of social and environmental sustainability, addresses Human Change panel about football’s potential for protecting children from the misuse of social media and digital devices.
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Football has a significant role to play in safeguarding children from the negative consequences of digital addiction for young lives.
That was the message delivered by Michele Uva, UEFA’s director of social and environmental sustainability to a discussion panel organised by the Human Change campaign in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday during the World Economic Forum.
The global advocacy initiative, launched earlier this week, unites international experts around a common commitment to raise awareness of the risks posed by social media and digital devices to children’s mental well-being.
Almost three-quarters (74%) of children aged 10–13 spend less than an hour outside each day*, while a teenager will spend up to an average of 90 days a year staring at a screen*. It is estimated that this has contributed to 39% of children and teenagers experiencing a deterioration in their mental health since 2017*.
Sanctuary from digital stimulation
In his address, Uva explained how football offers a powerful antidote to the sense of loneliness and social isolation that can result from overuse of digital devices. Like other sports, it helps maintain real-world connections as well as providing a sanctuary from constant digital stimulation.
Michele Uva, UEFA’s director of social and environmental sustainability
“Engaging in physical activity is not only the best solution to promote children’s physical, mental and emotional well-being. It is also a way to learn important values such as teamwork, camaraderie and discipline. Through sport, children learn to communicate, cooperate and respect each other's barriers,”
“Football, as one of the most popular sports in the world, has a central role to play in protecting and influencing children. Football associations, leagues, clubs and coaches around the world have an invaluable platform to influence and inspire the younger generation,” added Uva.
Strength through Unity
UEFA’s Strength through Unity sustainability strategy champions the European football community’s role in combatting technology’s negative impacts. Based on its health and well-being policy, UEFA is developing guidelines for national associations, leagues and clubs that address mental health and digital addiction.
Implementation of UEFA’s child and youth protection policy has seen the creation of a child safeguarding toolkit and digital platform in conjunction with non-governmental organisation, Terre des Hommes.
Michele Uva concluded:
“Football is a strong tool for education and awareness-raising. Through football, we can convey essential messages about the responsible use of technology, the importance of physical activity and human connection, and the importance of protecting our children against digital addiction.”
Sources
* Almost three-quarters (74%) of children aged 10-13 spend less than an hour outside per day - CBBC Newsround survey, BBC
* While a teenager will spend up an average 90 days staring at a screen - Human change
* It is estimated that this has contributed to 39% of children experiencing a deterioration in their mental health since 2017 - Mental health of Children and young people in England, 2021, NHS
Related links
- UEFA - Terre des Hommes safeguarding partnership
- UEFA competition specific child and youth protection guidance
