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The “problematic” use of social networks is on the rise among young Europeans who are also more likely to risk developing a gaming addiction, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Thursday.
“We need immediate and sustained action to help adolescents stop potentially harmful social media use, which has been shown to lead to depression, bullying, anxiety and poor academic performance“, said WHO Director for Europe, Hans Kluge in a statement.
In 2022, 11% of adolescents (13% of girls and 9% of boys) show signs of problematic use of social networks, whereas they were only 7% four years earlier, according to data obtained from 280,000 young people aged 11, 13, and 15 from 44 countries in Europe, Central Asia and Canada.
That is, they exhibit symptoms similar to those of addiction: inability to control excessive use, feelings of withdrawal and abandonment of other activities in favor of social media, and negative consequences of excessive use in daily life.
This phenomenon is most prevalent among Romanian adolescents aged 13 and 15, affecting 28% of them and least among Dutch adolescents (3%).
Another source of concern, a third of adolescents play online daily and 22% of them for at least four hours, noted the WHO which specifies that out of the entire cohort, 12% of adolescents have problematic behavior regarding gaming (16% of boys and 7% of girls).
“It is essential that we take steps to protect young people so that they can navigate the digital landscape safely and are able to make informed choices about their online activities, maximizing benefits while minimizing risks to their mental and social well-being“, said a WHO/Europe official, Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, quoted in a press release.
The UN agency, however, highlights the advantages of responsible use of social media, particularly the connection between those who share the same passions and interests.
36% of young people, and 44% of 15-year-old girls, report being in constant digital contact with their friends.
Young people “must dominate social networks, and not let social networks dominate them,” insisted Ms. Azzopardi-Muscat.
Thus, the WHO recommends that national authorities improve digital environments and educational measures to enable young people to safely understand the digital world.