DUNCAN STEPHENSON
Campaigns, Policy and Communications
CAMPAIGN :
Tackling Online Harms
Social media use has revolutionised the way people interact with one another. While there are undoubted benefits, there have also been a number of challenges, particularly affecting people’s wellbeing. Based on research I commissioned with young people, I developed a policy report which developed into a major campaign aimed at influencing politicians, Government and industry, to provide safeguards to mitigate the negatives, while harnessing the positives of social media.
PROJECT :
All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Media
I led our efforts to establish the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Media. Once established the Group conducted a National Inquiry into how to mitigate the negatives and harness the positives of social media – summoning witnesses from education, charities, industry, and academia.
IMAGE : Jonathan Ashworth MP, Jackie Doyle-Price MP, Chris Elmore MP and Shirley Cramer, RSPH CEO at launch of #NewFilters report.
PROJECT :
'Scroll-Free September'
To support public engagement with the aims of our campaign, and to provide people with a fun and engaging way to cut down their social media use, I devised #ScrollFreeSeptember. In effect, this was a Dry January for social media, to support people to either cut down or reduce their social media use for the month of September.
I oversaw and directed the research, marketing and PR to support the campaign - and my team secured over 5,000 sign-ups for the campaign. I also managed to gain funding to support the campaign from a range of corporate partners, including Silent Night Group, GambleAware and Amazon Audible. The latter were even persuaded to promote ScrollFreeSeptember as part of a major marketing and advertising campaign.
FILM : Will you sign up for Scroll-Free September?
FILM : Debating 'Scroll-Free September' on BBC Breakfast (2018).
Media Coverage (examples) :
- BBC NEWS - Scroll Free September: Social media users urged to log off
- THE SUN - What is Scroll Free September, why are people giving up social media and what levels of the challenge are there?
- SKY NEWS - Social media giants add safety features because of pressure over app 'addiction'
- THE MIRROR - Four in 10 millennials 'can't live' without social media
REPORT :
#StatusOfMind
I led research and the production of a policy report which set out the impact (both good and bad) of social media on the health and wellbeing of young people. When we published this report it made headlines around the world, and prompted the founder of Instagram to comment about it! You can read the report below.
Media Coverage (examples) :
- CNBC - Instagram most likely to cause young people to feel depressed and lonely out of major social apps, study says
- HUFFINGTON POST - Instagram Ranked 'Most Dangerous' Social Media App For Young People's Mental Health
- GUARDIAN - Instagram is supposed to be friendly. So why is it making people so miserable?
- BBC THREE - Would you buy photos to fake the perfect life on Instagram?
FILM : #StatusOfMind campaign video, 2017.
