Abstract
There is mounting evidence that digital spaces are filled with harmful commodity marketing that reaches young people. The current government inquiry into harms youth encounter online needs to recognise the challenge this poses.
As shown in our research, young people, including those aged under 18, report high exposure to vape and alcohol marketing. They also identify the benefits and the harms of social media platforms, which form an everyday and growing part of their lives, health, and thriving.
In this Briefing, we highlight youth voices from recent studies to articulate some of the harms they shared and propose potential protections that reduce the harms but retain the benefits of social media that young people enjoy.