09:51, 08 April 2025
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
All over London, The Children’s Society have put up billboards in their new campaign to bridge the gap in communication between adults and teenagers.
The Children’s Society has unveiled a striking billboard campaign across London to raise awareness of the communication divide between adults and teenagers. Timed to coincide with Netflix's Adolescence, the campaign features text conversations with emojis that may confuse adults, aiming to highlight how this misunderstanding can contribute to isolation and harmful behaviours among teens.
The billboards feature the message, “It’s ok if you don’t speak teen,” and direct viewers to resources for supporting young people’s emotional wellbeing.
The Children’s Society’s Good Childhood Report 2024 reveals that UK 15-year-olds have the lowest life satisfaction in Europe, with 25.2% of UK teens reporting low life satisfaction—nearly 9 percentage points higher than the European average.
Located at key spots across the city, including:
Mark Russell, CEO of The Children’s Society, emphasised: “This campaign is a call to action. It’s time to ensure our children grow into confident, fulfilled adults. Spaces like our youth hubs provide crucial, non-judgmental support for young people facing pressures such as academic stress and anxiety.”
The charity hopes the campaign will prompt a wider discussion on teen mental health, urging adults to listen, understand, and support the next generation.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
The Children’s Society. This UK charity is dedicated to supporting vulnerable children and young people, focusing on mental health, wellbeing, and early intervention to help them thrive. Find out more.
Place2Be. This charity provides mental health support in schools for children and young people, offering early intervention to address emotional wellbeing before challenges become more significant. Learn more here.
The Mix. A UK charity that provides support for under 25s, including a helpline, online counselling, and resources aimed at helping with mental health, relationships, and life challenges. Support them here.
This article aligns with the UN SDG Good Health and Wellbeing, Quality Education.
