LSN : Daily Signals : Childline gamifies digital pressure to prompt reflection among teens

Childline gamifies digital pressure to prompt reflection among teens

Digital anxiety campaign by Childline, UK

UK – British counselling service Childline has launched a new campaign, Race to a Milli, designed to raise awareness of the pressures of online life for young people.

Developed with London agencies House of Oddities and Bag of Worms, the campaign frames social media stress as a game show, pairing creators Makai Fray and Joe Leggett in a head-to-head competition for one million likes.

While the creators perform tasks to win adoration from anonymous viewers, a hidden presenter secretly manipulates the scoreboard, replicating the unpredictability and scrutiny of digital spaces. The campaign reflects Childline’s research into digital anxiety, including the constant need to stay connected, uncertainty about what is real online, reliance on AI for emotional guidance, engagement with rage-inducing content and fear of judgement for authentic expression.

Our Teens, Tech & Tapping Out analysis highlights that more than half (54%) of 16–24-year-olds worry about the amount of time they spend on social media (source: Voxburner). In the UK, urgent referrals of under-18s to mental health crisis teams were three times higher in May 2023 than the same month in 2019 (source: YoungMinds, National Health Service).

By turning digital pressures into an interactive experience, Childline aims to spark peer-to-peer discussion and encourage young people to seek support when needed, reflecting a broader shift of teens re-assessing their relationship with technology and wellbeing.

Strategic opportunity

Gamified experiences with familiar creators offer brands a way to engage young audiences, encouraging interaction and reflection on digital pressures in a format that is both approachable and meaningful

The Holiday & Travel Show 2026: Why experience-led staycations are defining the future of travel

UK – Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show returned to Olympia London as a key barometer for the future of tourism, bringing together 600 travel brands, 90 tourist boards and more than 100 speakers.

The event spotlighted how the cost of living crisis and a shift in consumer values are reshaping domestic and short-haul travel, with a strong focus on experience-led itineraries, cultural immersion and budget certainty.

On the show floor, industry leaders unpacked the growing appeal of staycations, revealing that destination stays are increasingly supplementing international travel.

Speakers highlighted a rise in frequent domestic breaks, with travellers now taking five to seven trips per year and favouring longer stays of four to seven nights over short one or two night escapes, according to Nick Hurley, head of hotel sales at Travelzoo.

Bertie’s Whisky Bar at The Fife Arms, Braemar, Scotland

This shift is being driven by a desire for deeper cultural connection, slower travel and better value. Sustainability emerged as a core priority, with travellers favouring experiences that actively support local communities while avoiding the friction of visas and insurance.

As previously examined in our macrotrend report, Optimised Odysseys, nature-rich destinations, historic sites and secondary cities are gaining traction as travellers look beyond traditional beach or city breaks. Pop culture pilgrimages are playing a pivotal role within the industry, with tv shows such as The Traitors driving surges in demand for locations such as Edinburgh, the Scottish Highlands and the Cotswolds, while celebrity-led narratives and chef-led hotel takeovers are helping destinations stand out through storytelling.

Experiences such as English vineyards, historic houses and the rise of shoulder-season travel in May and September reflect a growing appetite for aspirational yet accessible escapes, delivering summer appeal without peak pricing. Increasingly, value-conscious consumers are gravitating towards all-in experience packages that provide cost clarity.

Later in the day, author and broadcaster Ash Bhardwaj delivered a thought-provoking keynote entitled Why We Travel, exploring the emotional drivers behind travel behaviour. He urged the industry to distinguish between motivation and mechanism, arguing that curiosity, resilience, wonder and awe sit at the heart of human travel. From the role of storytelling in creating emotional connection to the value of discomfort in building resilience, Bhardwaj challenged operators to first understand why people travel before designing how those journeys unfold.

Strategic opportunity

Create all-inclusive experience bundles that include attraction tickets, dining and entertainment, giving consumers financial clarity and reducing planning friction in an uncertain economy

Stat: Gen Z’s screen time isn’t slowing down

AI Trip Planner by Booking.com, The Netherlands

US – Despite growing cultural narratives about going offline, Gen Z’s screen time in the US is still accelerating. According to research and strategy agency dcdx’s fifth annual Gen Z Screen Time Report, daily average screen time increased by more than 21 minutes in 2025, rising beyond the 7 hours 22 minutes recorded in 2024.

Drawing on 118 verified screen-time submissions from people aged 15 to 27, the survey also reveals that the nature of phone use is shifting. Daily pick-ups fell by 20%, suggesting less compulsive checking, but time spent per pick-up rose by 31%, pointing to longer, more immersive sessions. At the same time, notifications surged by 22%, with apps competing more aggressively for attention even as Gen Z reach for their phones less often. Mondays were the most intense, peaking at 269 notifications a day.

While offline socialising may be rising, the data suggests there is still a gap between intention and action when it comes to the habits and screen time of young consumers. Our Teens, Tech and Tapping Out report delves into the grassroots movement of activist parents trying to help their children break free from technology.

Strategic opportunity

Design social and digital experiences that help Gen Z cultivate healthier, more intentional screen habits. Use mindful notifications, gamified wellbeing features or phygital assets like printed zines and in-person social media challenges to future-proof your brand as audiences reclaim control over their digital lives