Another example for those working in Foster care, were it needed of government being in full possession of all the information and refusing to act for the collective good. Do we actually have government? Or should we be more honest with ourselves, and accept that we as a nation pay for a very expensive group of people who are adept at merely chronicling events. And whilst doing so, are able to create the impression that something is actually being done – or about to be done. Herein lies the art of contemporary politics: managing to appear sincere, proactive, energetic – always appearing keen to push an issue to the top of the agenda, but what actually gets done within a sensible time frame? Usually nothing, or if it does, usually many years later and too late to help those first affected.

We have a very good example of this unfolding at the moment in relation to the mental health of teenage girls. Here are the facts: the Children’s Society’s annual report is pointing to the issue of girls in Britain becoming increasingly miserable. Amongst girls who are aged between 10 to 15, the report says that 14% are generally unhappy with their lives, with 34% being specifically unhappy with their appearance. Girls reported to researchers that they felt ugly and worthless. Research conducted for the Department for Education, also states clearly that the mental well-being of teenage girls has worsened in recent years. This study ran a comparison of the experiences and attitudes of 14 year olds in 2014 to 14 year olds in 2005. The picture that emerged indicated an increase in “psychological distress”. Other points were made about the economic times at present being more serious with, as the study says,  “Young people feeling less control over their own destinies,” The difficulty of finding somewhere affordable to live also causes pressure and, according to the study, has made young people more”serious” than their counterparts in 2005.

Children in foster care are particularly vulnerable.

All these factors undoubtedly contribute, but the most significant aspect of this has to be the statistics and effects associated with social media: the proportion of girls reporting being worried about their looks rose from 30% for the period as a whole, to 34% in the year 2013-14. The study has made a clear link between rapidly changing technology and an increase in psychological problems. Social Media has become all pervasive and by spreading to different platforms such as tablets and phones, become almost inescapable. Compared to teenagers in 2005, today’s teenagers are confronted by the near constant pressure of social media available on smartphones. Another study reveals childcare professionals have produced evidence that children could be concerned about being ugly or fat at a younger age, with girls particularly affected. The Professional Association of Childcare and Early Years, report that their staff are noticing children that are as young as three becoming worried about their appearance. There are more disturbing indicators: adults, such as nannies, nursery staff and child minders charged with looking after the under 10’s saying that children are often unhappy with parts of their bodies, or their shape and are prone to commenting negatively about the appearance of other children. A significant number, then don’t eat properly worrying they will become fat.

It is beyond question that social media presents a risk to all children – and children in foster care can be more at risk. Young people are being negatively affected in different ways. Social media platforms are making them sensitive to issues about their appearance that would not have occurred to previous generations. Its effects upon health are pernicious in other ways: Lucy Capron from the Children’s Society in a recent radio interview stated “relationships, and the way they are played out on social media, are big drivers in a young person’s life – some other research has shown that girls are spending a lot more time on social media – up to three hours a night in some cases – and we need to make sure that’s done in a safe way,” It is also worth pointing out that teenagers need more sleep – 9.5 hours a night, and many girls are getting less than that, at a time when normal development requires a proper amount of sleep.

There is another disturbing aspect: how very easily issues bound up with how a child perceives his/her appearance can easily make them vulnerable to cyber bullying. Many who provide foster care will have had personal experience of children who have fallen victim to such behaviour.

Everyone involved in foster care should insist politicians do more.

Politicians should face up to these pernicious and insidious effects. There is something deeply questionable about politicians who; fortunately for themselves, grew up in an era without such risks behaving in such a blasé manner. The evidence is mounting quickly that real and lasting psychological damage is likely to be being inflicted on our children. Certainly enough to adopt the precautionary principle around social media. In a bygone era, it was thought for some unfathomable reason that exposure to X Rays brought health benefits. And now we understand the risks. So it is with social media: in its early days, it was regarded as innocuous, but now adverse and highly damaging effects are clearly evident. And yet, what are our politicians actually doing in concrete terms to address this? It sounds heretical, but perhaps we should think about mobile phones as we do about alcohol and tobacco. This could perhaps mean making them unavailable until the age of sixteen. Recent generations grew up without the need to be in constant contact, were physically far more active and consequently slept better. They did things like learn musical instruments, climb trees and play sport. They were not, beyond what was normal for adolescents, self obsessed.

As a society we accept young people need guidance and support to mature into adults; why then do we allow young children access to a technology so pervasive that, if we are honest, we grown ups can’t predict where it is taking us all? We could limit phone technology for all children: devices can be simplified, perhaps being restricted to just making calls or texting. No one is denying that there are times when having a phone can be important in keeping a young person safe: there will always be that occasion when a parent needs to be able to make contact. But this is different to allowing children access to an ever increasing Pandora’s box of tricks whose risks are clearly growing. This is a particular risk to children in foster care who may experience frequent placement breakdowns meaning no one person becomes familiar over time with their online habits.

Keeping children safe online is more important than ever: for guidance and information visit www.nspcc.org.uk/ShareAware

The risk technology poses in a more general sense are made clear by the latest figures revealing that more than 1,900 offences involving the possession of indecent images of children have been reported by police in Scotland. This covers the last three years, but includes a 17% rise in cases last year alone. The figures were obtained by the NSPCC. The Charity is demanding internet companies do far more to confront this growing problem. The policy and public affairs manager for the NSPCC, Joanna Barrett, stated “Social network providers and other technology platforms must realise that they are the key enablers of online child sexual abuse and make a serious commitment to tackling it.” All independent fostering agencies should add their pressure to such providers as they should be supporting people providing foster care, not making their lives harder.

And the good news at the end of this foster care rainbow…providing foster care presents many challenges so it is very satisfying that two of our carers are reporting tremendous progress regarding the children they have in placement. Where previously the children knew no boundaries or routines, they have now settled happily into their new home and are flourishing. Our cares, who have done a wonderful job, describe them as being ‘happy smiley’ children.

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