Here’s a startling fact: Australian adolescents are facing a health crisis, and it’s not just about physical fitness or diet—it’s about their mental well-being, too. Over 80% of teens aren’t meeting national guidelines for nutrition or physical activity, and a staggering three-quarters are grappling with symptoms of depression or anxiety. Yet, despite these alarming numbers, adolescent health remains underfunded and overlooked. But here’s where it gets even more concerning: the digital health initiatives meant to support them are falling short.
Adolescents today are practically glued to their smartphones—95% of them have access to one. This makes digital health tools an obvious solution to connect with them. But are these tools actually meeting their needs? The short answer is no. A recent study led by Imogen Croucher and Mariah Issa from the Youth Well Lab at the University of Sydney found that the 21 publicly available digital health initiatives for teens are narrowly focused. Most target mental well-being, leaving critical areas like nutrition and physical activity—key pillars of overall health—largely unaddressed. And this is the part most people miss: only four of these initiatives are specifically designed for First Nations adolescents, despite federal funding prioritizing culturally targeted interventions.
What’s more, these digital tools often fail to engage the very audience they’re meant for. They’re rarely co-designed with adolescents, use complex language, and are hosted on platforms teens don’t frequent, like government websites. It’s no wonder they’re not making the impact they could.
But here’s the silver lining: this gap isn’t just a problem—it’s an opportunity. By investing in evidence-based digital health initiatives now, we can empower young people today, set them up for healthier adulthoods, and even influence the next generation they’ll one day parent. Yet, the bigger issue looms large: non-communicable diseases are now the leading cause of death globally, and nearly half of Australian adolescents already have at least one such condition. If we want to promote healthy ageing, we need to start intervening long before adulthood.
Here’s a bold statement: Adolescents aren’t just the future—they’re part of the solution. With 3.3 million young people aged 15-24 in Australia, promoting good health now can establish lifelong protective behaviors, reducing the future burden of disease. The National Preventive Health Strategy emphasizes this, but without targeted investment in adolescents, its goals may remain out of reach. And it’s not just about money—though the potential return is impressive, with $10 USD for every $1 USD spent. It’s about involving teens in decision-making processes. Studies show they value this involvement, and it improves their health outcomes. Yet, opportunities for them to engage are rare, despite recommendations from the UN, WHO, and The Lancet Commission.
Take the Health Advisory Panel for Youth at The University of Sydney (HAPYUS), for example. This youth advisory group proves that when young people are included in shaping research, it becomes more relevant and effective. As Sara Wardak, a former HAPYUS advisor, put it, ‘We want to be involved in research that’s about us, but it often feels inaccessible.’ Adolescents shouldn’t be passive recipients of initiatives that directly impact their lives.
Digital technologies offer a promising, equitable solution. With the tech sector booming—growing 80% in just five years—its potential to improve health is undeniable. Yes, challenges like accessibility and digital literacy exist, but digital solutions can be scaled globally at a relatively fixed cost, making healthcare more accessible than ever. The National Digital Health Strategy (2023-2028) encourages us to embrace this revolution, and researchers are already leveraging AI, social media, and text messaging to deliver preventive care.
The Health4Me study, led by Dr. Rebecca Raeside, is a prime example. This co-designed text-message initiative proved so effective that one participant said, ‘It should definitely become a public thing … I’d take full advantage of it again.’ But here’s the controversial part: are we truly empowering adolescents to shape these initiatives, or are we still designing them in silos? Their firsthand experiences are invaluable, yet they’re often sidelined. If we don’t involve them, we risk a USD $4.1 trillion cost of inaction by 2050.
The bottom line? We can’t afford not to invest in adolescents. Their health today determines the health of our collective future. So, let’s ask ourselves: Are we doing enough? And if not, what’s stopping us from taking action now?
Mariah Issa, Imogen Croucher, Allyson Todd, Professor Stephanie Partridge, and Dr. Rebecca Raeside are leading voices in adolescent health and digital innovation. Their work highlights the urgent need for inclusive, effective solutions. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
