14/12/2025

面對數位疫情,臺灣兒少心理健康亟需數位轉型(自由廣場)

面對數位疫情,臺灣兒少心理健康亟需數位轉型

蘇冠賓

中國醫藥大學 安南醫院副院長
憂鬱症中心身心介面研究中心主持人
精神醫學及神經科學教授 




澳洲日前立法禁止十六歲以下兒少使用社群媒體,成為全球第一個採取行動的國家,在科技治理史上寫下里程碑。當我們目睹「Z世代」孩子們在「以手機為本位的生活型態」中成長,一場無聲的「數位疫情」正快速危害著年輕一代的心理健康

筆者近來在國際學術期刊《Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences》上提出「數位疫情傳染機制」框架,與澳洲禁令背後動機有著深刻共鳴。這場疫情的傳播並非單一因素:首先,AI演算法追求注意力經濟,擅長觸發仇恨、恐懼、嫉妒等負面情緒,將年輕人困於同溫層,加劇焦慮、憂鬱與社會對立。其次,惡意使用者利用匿名性,從事網路霸凌、散播極端思想,甚至誘騙行為,造成新型態創傷。最後,成癮性螢幕使用取代睡眠、運動與面對面社交,阻礙社會情緒學習(SEL)與心理韌性發展。台灣青少年自殺為第二大死因,憂鬱與焦慮就醫率僅廿%,數位疫情無疑加劇危機。

澳洲禁令的啟示,在於預防性治理:非道德恐慌,基於研究證據,從設計源頭降低風險。相較之下,台灣面臨類似問題:網路沉迷、霸凌、AI換臉色情,卻多停留宣導層面,政策仍散落兒少法與數位中介法草案。

我們應建構四大支柱防線:一、制定規範,要求演算法透明,強化「未成年分齡」驗證。二、針對自殘、心理健康議題,加強過濾與內容規範。三、提升心理韌性教育,加強親子數位教養。四、建立「社群時代心理健康支持網」,提高諮商師配置、提供匿名線上協助,推動危機介入與自殺防治。

面對此疫,我們不能只「禁」與「限」,更需「轉型」與「建構」。台灣精神醫學會正在推動「精神醫療數位化轉型」的深耕計畫,推動數位化篩檢、數位化診療與倫理教育。而線上遠距診療具去污名化、高可近性優勢,在美國已成為常規;台灣卻受法規限制。筆者呼籲衛福部與立法院參考美國,適度放寬,讓精神照護跟上時代,尤其惠及青少年。

科技是雙面刃,澳洲禁令雖有爭議,但開啟全球討論:歐盟、英國已推嚴格規範,丹麥、大馬跟進。台灣應與時俱進,攜手政府、科技界、專家與家長,加速心理健康數位轉型,為下一代打造安全、健康的數位未來,讓科技成為促進身心發展的助力,而非禍源。(作者為安南醫院副院長、總統府健康台灣推動委員會委員)



(原投書自由廣場之未刪原文)

面對數位疫情,臺灣兒少心理健康亟需數位轉型

澳洲昨日起成為全球第一個禁止16歲以下兒少使用社群媒體的國家,這項具里程碑意義的決策,不僅在國際科技治理史上劃下深刻一筆,更應該成為台灣的警鐘。當我們目睹 z世代的孩子們在「以手機為本位生活型態」中成長,一場「數位疫情」正在危害年輕一代的心理健康

揭開數位疫情的毒性機制

筆者近來在國際學術期刊《Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences》上提出「數位疫情傳染機制」框架,與澳洲禁令背後動機有著深刻共鳴。這場疫情的傳播並非單一因素,而是由多重毒性路徑交織而成:

首先是人工智慧演算法的推波助瀾。這些追求注意力最大化的演算法,擅長觸發和放大負面情緒,如仇恨、嫉妒、焦慮和對立思想,並將使用者困在同溫層中。這種機制如同看不見的推手,加劇了年輕人的焦慮與憂鬱。

其次是惡意使用者與病態社會動力學。網路的匿名性和即時性,讓網路霸凌、有害意識形態、甚至詐騙與誘騙行為更加猖獗。這些新型態的創傷,對青少年心靈造成直接、難以磨滅的傷害。

最後,是成癮性螢幕使用取代了發展必須的活動。當過度的數位沉迷取代了睡眠、體育活動、以及面對面社交,這不僅影響身體健康,更阻礙了青少年社會情緒學習(SEL)和心理韌性的發展。

因此,僅僅宣導媒體素養已遠遠不夠,澳洲的「源頭治理」思維,為我們指出了一條必須採取的方向:必須透過「未成年數位安全分齡制度」與「基礎設計保護」,限制演算法強度、強化年齡驗證,從源頭上設計一個更安全的數位環境。

數位轉型:從守舊到領先的契機

面對數位疫情,我們的應對策略不能僅限於「禁」與「限」,更需要「轉型」與「建構」。臺灣在心理健康照護的數位化轉型上,正面臨著從落後到領先的歷史性契機。臺灣精神醫學界已意識到此趨勢,台灣精神醫學會正在推動「精神醫療數位化轉型」的深耕計畫,推動數位化篩檢、數位化診療與倫理教育。也應積極籌備成立「精神醫療數位化轉型委員會」,確立「數位轉型」是學會的戰略核心(Strategic Priority),並因應「跨領域資源整合」的需求(Interdisciplinary Integration),和醫院、政府、產業協調,與衛福部、國科會、健保署及醫療科技產業進行政策級的對話,爭取經費和規範鬆綁。

然而,我國的線上遠距診療法規仍遠落後於國際。以美國為例,純線上診療已占27.8%、混合模式21.1%,顯示其已成為常規化服務。而台灣仍受法規限制。線上診療具去污名化、高可近性等優勢,對於就醫率僅20%、青少年自殺已是第二大死因的我國青少年心理健康而言,是一條重要的生命線。我呼籲衛生福利部與立法院應適度放寬相關限制,參考美國聯邦法規的保障,讓精神心理照護能跟上時代需求。

共同行動:台灣需要建構四大支柱的防線:

為有效防治數位疫情,我們需要一個全面且多層次的策略,如同我提出的「風險評估鏈」架構:第一針對普遍性風險緩解: 呼籲政府制定更嚴格規範,要求演算法透明化,並在資料源頭清除有害資訊;建立社交互動式平台之「未成年數位安全分齡制度」,強化年齡驗證機制。第二為情境特定風險緩解: 針對心理健康、自殘等敏感議題,設置更強的過濾機制與內容規範。第二為使用者特定風險緩解: 大幅提升年輕人的媒體識讀能力和心理韌性,讓他們有能力抵抗數位誘惑。無論是否禁用社群,年輕人的焦慮、霸凌創傷、情緒困擾都將回流至校園與家庭。我們必須提升「社群時代心理健康支持網」,提高心理健康人員編置、提供線上匿名協助、建立風險偵測機制、提升家長數位教養能力。這不是單靠禁止,而是要給孩子有溫度的替代支持。第四為數位化轉型與危機介入:制定完善的法律及倫理準則,並建立即時的數位化線上危機介入與自殺防治機制。

科技是雙面刃,它既能成為危害年輕人心靈的兇手,也能成為促進其身心發展的好幫手。澳洲的禁令提醒我們,保護下一代不能再等。我呼籲政府、科技界、心理健康專業人士及所有家長,立即共同合作,以更具前瞻性的數位治理思維,加速臺灣心理健康照護的數位轉型,為我們的下一代打造一個真正健康、安全的數位未來。





2 comments:

  1. Digital pandemic and well-being

    Thu, Dec 18, 2025 By Su Kuan-Pin 蘇冠賓
    https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2025/12/18/2003849068

    Australia has become the first country to ban children under 16 from using social media platforms, a milestone in the history of technology governance. For Gen Z, a social media and phone-based childhood has given rise to a host of issues that endanger their mental health and well-being: a silent “digital pandemic.”

    The motivating factors behind the Australian ban align with the framework of “transmission mechanisms” I put forward in a recent paper published in the academic journal Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms trigger and amplify negative emotions such as anger, fear or jealousy in the modern attention economy, trapping young people in a bubble that perpetuates increased anxiety, depression and social polarization. Malicious users are able to create anonymous profiles to engage in cyberbullying, the promotion of extremist ideologies or even grooming — this poses a threat of a new form of harm.

    The addictiveness of screens disrupts sleep, and often comes at the cost of exercise and face-to-face social interaction, impacting young people’s social-emotional learning and development of psychological resilience. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for adolescents in Taiwan, yet only 20 percent of those suffering from anxiety or depression seek help — and the digital pandemic is undoubtedly making things worse.

    Australia’s ban is an example of preventive governance — born not out of moral panic, but research — and is designed to address risks at their source. Taiwan faces a similar situation, yet actions to address the crises, which include Internet addiction, cyberbullying and AI-enabled face-swap porn, often stop at the level of public education and awareness. Policies that actually target these issues are disjointed, appearing, for example, in the Child and Juvenile Welfare and Rights Protection Act (兒童及少年福利與權益保障法) or the now-mothballed 2022 draft digital intermediary services act.

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  2. Digital pandemic and well-being (2nd Part)

    Thu, Dec 18, 2025 By Su Kuan-Pin 蘇冠賓
    https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2025/12/18/2003849068
    .......
    Our defense should have four central pillars. First, to regulate and enforce transparency requirements for algorithms while improving age-verification mechanisms for the underaged. Second, to strengthen filters and content guidelines to address issues of self-harm and mental health. Third, boost well-being and psychological resilience education, and provide support for digital parenting. Fourth, establish a network of support for the social media age as crisis intervention and suicide prevention measures, while increasing the number of counselors available to young people and the accessibility of anonymous online support services.

    We must think transformatively and structurally rather than only in terms of bans and limits within existing frameworks. The Taiwanese Society of Psychiatry is currently rolling out its plan for the “digital transformation of psychiatry,” which includes digital screening, diagnostics and treatment, as well as ethics education measures.

    Accessing help online and remotely can help with reducing stigma and increasing accessibility; it is already the norm in the US, but is still subject to legal restrictions in Taiwan.

    The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Legislative Yuan should consider the US’ model and moderately relax restrictions to allow our mental healthcare systems to evolve with the world around us — particularly for the sake of young people.

    Technology is a double-edged sword. Australia’s social media ban might be controversial, but it has certainly started the global discussion. The UK and Europe, which already have strong regulations, will be watching closely, while Denmark and Malaysia have already announced plans to follow Australia’s example.

    Taiwan must keep up with the times and bring together the government, technology sector, experts, parents and caregivers to accelerate a digital transformation to address the youth mental health crisis. Let us create a safe and positive digital future for the next generation where technology can be a positive force for our well-being, rather than a source of psychological ills.

    Su Kuan-Pin is a professor of psychiatry at China Medical University’s College of Medicine, the deputy superintendent of An-nan Hospital and a member of the Presidential Office’s Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee.

    Translated by Gilda Knox Streader

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