Concept note
Lindsey Higgs is a facilitator and participatory designer with 15+ years of global experience helping organizations connect, learn, and act. Drawing on human-centred design, liberating structures, and Social and Behaviour Change Communication, she has designed and led convenings for the Council of Europe, the International Organization for Migration, FHI360, UNESCO and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, among others — from Bangkok to Dakar, Sydney to Baghdad. As the co-founder of Sage + Spark, a women-owned agency specializing in making complex information relevant, accessible and actionable, she works at the intersection of strategic communication, experiential learning, and social change.
Thematic dialogue on social media and children’s mental health
4 June 2026 
Strasbourg (Palais de l’Europe - Room 9) and 
online
The session provided an opportunity to explore the relationship between exposure to social media and children’s well-being and mental health, and to examine policy responses aimed at mitigating risks. At a time when many countries are reviewing their legislation on children’s access to social media, the discussions sought to identify ways to best balance the protection of children with the respect for their rights and their participation.
This event was organised by the Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child (CDENF), in co-operation with the Steering Committee for Human Rights in the fields of Biomedicine and Health (CDBIO), under the auspices of the Presidency of Monaco of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers. It contributed to the New Democratic Pact for Europe.
Programme and presentations
9:15 - 10:10
Opening and introduction
- Alain BERSET, Secretary General of the Council of Europe
- Christophe ROBINO, Minister of Social Affairs and Health of Monaco
- Elisabeth STAKSRUD, Professor, Media and Communication Department, University of Oslo
- Julia (Ireland) and Rhythm (Malta), Youth Ambassadors, 5Rights Foundation
10:10 - 10:30 Coffee Break
10:30 - 12:00
Taking stock | Growing up with social media: Exploring implications for children’s mental health
The session aims to identify, describe and assess the potential effects and risks to the mental health of children and adolescents associated with the use of social media, based on current scientific evidence and experience of health professionals, and young people.
- Sophia ACHAB, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre in Mental Health, University of Geneva, Medical Director, ReConnect consultation service, Geneva University Hospitals and expert for the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe on online addictions
- Grégoire BORST, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychology and Neuroscience, Paris Cité University
- Melanie KUHRN and Stella GOESCHL, Regional Youth Champions, Digital Transformation for Health Lab (DTH-Lab)
- Markus MESCHIK, Professor, Social Sciences, University of Saint Pölten, expert for the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe
12:00 - 12:30 Q&A session
12:30 - 14:00 Lunch
offered by the Presidency of Monaco
14:00- 15:30
Formulating policy responses | Educate, support, regulate: a call for a comprehensive response
This session will explore multidimensional and complementary strategies to prevent and mitigate risks on children and ensure the safe use of social media and, more broadly, digital tools, in full respect of their human rights. The issue of age limitations will be critically considered.
- Louise HOLLY, Policy and Research Coordinator, Digital Transformation for Health Lab (DTH-Lab) and Cassie REDLICH, Technical Officer, Mental Health Specialist, World Health Organisation (WHO Europe)
- Martin HUSOVEC, Professor of Law, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
- Manon LETOUCHE, Head of EU Affairs, 5Rights Foundation
- Alessandro PADOVAN, Representative, Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ) of the Council of Europe
- Lisa ROBINSON, Online Safety Policy Analyst, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
15:30- 16:00 Q&A session
16:00 - 16:10 Break
16:10 - 17:40
Open floor discussion
Exchange of practices and experience sharing
- Contributions of member States and partners (registration required)
17:40 - 17:45
Conclusions
- Presentation of key learnings
- Follow-up and future activities
17:45 - 18:30 Refreshments
offered by the Presidency of Monaco
18:30 - 20:30
Private preview screening
In-person only
- Molly vs the Machines, a film by Marc Silver.
- Followed by an exchange with Ian Russell and Andy Burrows, from the Molly Rose Foundation.
Wrap-up video
Video reportage by Monaco Info
Photos
Moderators
Speakers
Professor, Media and Communication Department, University of Oslo
Elisabeth Staksrud (PhD, MAE) is Professor at the Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo, researching online censorship and freedom of expression, research ethics, and children’s rights, risks and regulation in the digital environment. She is the coordinator of the 35-country EU Kids Online network, and has previously chaired the Norwegian National Committee for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities (NESH), and the European Communication Research and Education Association’s Children, Youth and Media Section. She also works extensively on issues of academic freedom.
Her book “Children in the Online world: Risk, Regulation, Rights” (Routledge, 2016) deals with the balancing of media risk, problematic regulatory practices, and the pressure this puts on children’s participatory and provisional rights.
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