Youth Digital Balance

The Digital Balance animation series is a practical, evidence-informed resource co-created with young people aged 13-18 years to support healthier, more positive online experiences.

Each animation shares simple, actionable tips on topics such as managing challenging online interactions and understanding how digital activity can affect everyday life. Designed to encourage reflection and conversation, the series helps young people make small changes that can have a positive impact on their digital wellbeing.

The animation series encourages young people to:

  • Notice how online experiences make them feel and take breaks when needed.
  • Shape their feed and digital space so it feels safer, more positive, and supportive.
  • Focus on content that inspires or helps them feel good about themselves.
  • Balance screen time with rest, focus, and in-person moments.
  • Reach out to trusted people for support and talk about difficult experiences.
  • Encourages adults to listen openly and learn alongside young people.

​Parents, educators and practitioners can use the animations to move conversations beyond screen time and explore factors that shape young people’s online experiences.

    Animation 1: Screen time, digital activities and feelings

    Animation 2: Social comparisons 

    Animation 3: Impact on daily life

    Animation 4: Handling tricky online interactions

    Animation 5: Voices of young people

    The Digital Balanced series is informed by findings from the UKRI-funded DIORA research collaboration between Queen Mary University of London - School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, LSE Department of Media and Communications, King's College London, The University of Edinburgh, & University of Nottingham and directed by Sofja Umarik.

    To read more about the latest research evidence from the DIORA project:

    Acknowledgements: The #DigitalBalance concept and content were created by Katarzyna Kostyrka-Allchorne, Peiyao Tang, Mariya Stoilova, Aja Murray, Eliz Azeri, Sonia Livingstone, and Edmund Sonuga-Barke. The animation design was created by Sofja Umarik, with funding provided by Queen Mary University of London and the Digital Youth programme. 
    Funding for the research supporting the animations’ content was provided by the UK Research and Innovation Medical Research Council and the Huo Family Foundation. Special thanks to the youth panel for all their contributions and support throughout the project (in alphabetical order): Aaron, Dan, Joshua, Rodela, Ruzaina, Timandra, and Vicky.