What does research say about young people, social media and addiction-like use?

About 7% of Swiss 11 to 15-year-olds use social networks problematically (girls about 10%), with 13-year-olds most affected; about 45% use media to escape negative feelings, and 40% have tried to cut down and failed. Upward comparisons harm well-being and body image, and 12-year-olds are as active at night as 18-year-olds.

The apps young people like most are social platforms: Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, WhatsApp and YouTube lead the ranking (JAMES 2024).

Findings:

• HBSC Switzerland 2023: about 7% of 11 to 15-year-olds show problematic use of social networks; girls (about 10%) are more affected than boys, and 13-year-olds more than 11 and 15-year-olds.
• About 45% have used media to escape negative feelings.
• 40% have tried to spend less time on social media and failed, a direct sign of loss of control.
• McComb et al. (2023): upward social comparison (comparing oneself with people who seem better off, more beautiful or more successful) is linked to lower well-being, self-esteem and body image.
• Lederer-Hutsteiner et al. (2023): night-time activity caused by social media is as high among 12-year-olds as among 18-year-olds.

Why the question mark in "social media and addiction?": social media use is not a recognised addiction, but these signs (escape, failed attempts to cut down, harm to sleep and self-image) are the same ones that define addictive behaviour elsewhere.

Go deeper:

• Wikipedia: Problematic social media use — research on addiction-like social media use.
• Wikipedia: Social comparison theory — upward and downward comparison explained.