For young people, it is a constant companion: the smartphone. They use social media for several hours a day or lose themselves in digital gaming worlds. This is increasingly becoming a problem for their health, as a new WHO study shows.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more young people in Europe than ever before are having trouble putting their smartphones down.
According to new data from the WHO Regional Office for Europe, more than one in ten adolescents now show signs of problematic social media behavior, with girls (13 percent) more likely to do so than boys (nine percent). More than one in three (36 percent) reported being in constant contact with friends online.
Social media use increasingly problematic
Overall, social media use classified as problematic among teenagers has increased from seven percent of young people in 2018 to eleven percent in 2022, according to WHO Europe on Basis of a comprehensive survey According to the report, German young people were slightly below the overall average in 2022 at ten percent.
In addition, according to the WHO, twelve percent of adolescents are at risk of developing problematic gaming behavior, with boys being significantly more at risk than girls.
The Copenhagen-based organisation sees these two findings as cause for urgent concern about the impact of digital technology on the mental health and wellbeing of young people in Europe.
WHO: Teaching digital skills is important
“It is clear that social media can have both positive and negative consequences for the health and well-being of young people,” said WHO Regional Director Hans Kluge. This is why teaching digital skills is so important. However, in many countries, these skills are inadequate or do not keep pace with the pace of development.
Immediate and sustainable measures must be taken to help young people get a grip on their potentially harmful social media use. Otherwise, it can lead to depression, bullying, anxiety and poor school performance, warned Kluge. If used correctly, however, social networks can also lead to stronger social bonds.
280,000 young people from 44 countries surveyed
The new WHO findings are part of a comprehensive health study that surveyed nearly 280,000 children and adolescents aged 11, 13 and 15 from 44 countries and regions in Europe, Central Asia and Canada in 2022. Problematic social media use is defined as a behavioral pattern characterized by addiction-like symptoms, such as being unable to control use, experiencing withdrawal symptoms or neglecting other activities.