UNICEF launches online betting and mental health campaign in Argentina
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the risks of online betting among adolescents, providing families and schools with tools for prevention
Key Points
- It was developed alongside the Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Family and includes guidelines for parents, teachers and caregivers
- The campaign is based on UNICEF’s Kids Online Argentina report, which found that one in four adolescents has bet at least once, often starting at age 13
UNICEF Argentina has launched a campaign during Mental Health Month to address the risks of online betting among children and adolescents, providing families and schools with tools for prevention and dialogue.
The campaign encourages families, teachers and caregivers to play an active role in prevention by creating spaces for open dialogue. Recommendations include starting the conversation proactively, choosing a calm environment, speaking clearly, respecting adolescents’ decision-making capacity and listening without judgment.
It also advises monitoring the use of virtual wallets, critically reviewing advertising and influencer content related to betting, and promoting sports, cultural and outdoor activities as healthy alternatives.
The initiative, developed in partnership with the Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Family of the Ministry of Human Capital, seeks to strengthen awareness of the risks of online betting and support protective practices that contribute to the mental health of children and adolescents.
Good to know: Recently, Fundación La Nación and UNICEF held a free virtual event to provide parents and educators with tools to guide children in screen use and digital content interaction
The campaign is based on findings from the Kids Online Argentina report, which show that one in four adolescents has bet at least once, often starting around age 13. Most cases involve sports betting, mainly football, and are linked to access to virtual wallets.
Javier Quesada, Specialist in Health and Early Childhood Development at UNICEF Argentina, said: “Online betting has effects on the relational and emotional lives of children and adolescents, which can generate anxiety, frustration, insomnia, withdrawal, poor school performance, increased family conflict and exposure to misleading messages linked to immediate success.
“This ends up affecting their relationships, self-esteem and mental health, often without anyone noticing in time.”
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