Teens, Screens & Mental Health - New Data Shows Rise in Problematic Social Media Use

New WHO/Europe report indicates need for healthier online habits among adolescents

New data from the WHO Regional Office for Europe reveals a sharp rise in problematic social media use among adolescents, with rates increasing from 7% in 2018 to 11% in 2022. This, coupled with findings that 12% of adolescents are at risk of problematic gaming, raises urgent concerns about the impact of digital technology on the mental health and well-being of Europe's youth. These findings come from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, which surveyed almost 280,000 young people aged 11, 13, and 15 across 44 countries and regions in Europe, Central Asia and Canada in 2022.

Key findings include:

• More than 1 in 10 adolescents (11%)  showed signs of problematic social media behaviour, struggling to control their use and experiencing negative consequences. Girls reported higher levels of problematic social media use than boys (13% vs 9%).
• Over a third (36%) of young people reported constant contact with friends online, with the highest rates among 15-year-old girls (44%).
• A third (34%) of adolescents played digital games daily, with more than 1 in 5 (22%) playing for at least four hours on days when they engage in gaming.
• 12% of adolescents are at risk of problematic gaming, with boys more likely than girls to show signs of problematic gaming (16% vs 7%).

The report defines problematic social media use as a pattern of behaviour characterised by addiction-like symptoms. These include an inability to control social media usage, experiencing withdrawal when not using it, neglecting other activities in favour of social media, and facing negative consequences...