How do drugs How dependent do social media?

Danger of addiction of social media portals investigated

Adolescents often spend a lot of time online in social networks. DAK-Gesundheit and the German Center for Addiction Issues have now examined the social media dependency of 12- to 17-year-olds and found far-reaching effects. "There is even a connection between social media addiction and depression," according to the DAK release on the results of the investigation. There are also many other social and health problems.

WhatsApp, Instagram or Snapchat can be addictive, experts warn. "Many children and adolescents chat, post and like from early until late at night," emphasizes Andreas Storm, CEO of DAK-Gesundheit. This sometimes has far-reaching health and social consequences - from quarrels in the family to impending depression. Clear rules on the use of social media are required here in order to avoid the development of a social media addiction among the adolescents.

The use of social media can quickly become an addiction to adolescents, with far-reaching consequences. (Image: Syda Productions / gotolia.com)

When is there a social media addiction??

For the study "WhatsApp, Instagram and Co. - so addictive is social media", the Forsa Institute surveyed 1,001 children and adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. This is the first representative analysis of the frequency of adolescent social media dependency in Germany, reports the DAK. Based on the criteria of the so-called Social Media Disorder Scale, the existence of a social media addiction was assessed in the study. If at least five out of nine standard questions were answered with "yes", the addiction was considered confirmed.

100,000 affected adolescents

The joint study by DAK-Gesundheit and the German Center for Addiction Issues at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) showed that according to the Social Media Disorder Scale, 2.6 percent of the respondents are classified as dependent - girls are slightly more likely than those with 3.4 percent Boys (1.9 percent). Extrapolated to all 12- to 17-year-olds in Germany, this percentage corresponds to about 100,000 people affected nationwide, according to the DAK.

Two and a half hours a day social media usage

On average, boys and girls between the ages of twelve and 17 spend around two and a half hours a day on social media, the health insurance company reports. "Some slip into addiction. We have to respond to that so that those affected and their families can get help "; emphasizes the CEO of DAK-Health, Andreas Storm. On average, girls spend more than three hours a day on social media than boys (2.5 hours a day).

Online time increases the search risk

The scientists also found that with increasing age of respondents, the time they spend at WhatsApp, Instagram and Co. increases. For example, girls between the ages of 16 and 17 spend almost 3.5 hours per day on social media and boys the same age 2.75 hours. The most popular application was WhatsApp, followed by Instagram and Snapchat. Professor Rainer Thomasius, Medical Director of the German Center for Child and Adolescent Addiction Issues at the UKE, emphasizes that the longer and the more often the children and adolescents are online, the higher the search risk.

Social media addiction and depression

According to Professor Thomasius, the correlation between social media addiction and depression was particularly critical. Those who depend on social media have a 4.6% higher risk of developing depression than non-addicts. And one in three adolescents with a social media disorder reported symptoms of depression. However, the cause-effect relationship is still unclear. "Of course it can also be that depressive children and adolescents withdraw more frequently into the virtual world and therefore develop an addictive behavior," says Prof. Thomasius.

What are the consequences of the addiction??

As far as depression is concerned, according to the expert, it is in any case clear that the two factors increase and threaten serious health problems. Further social media problems among the children and adolescents interviewed are primarily social effects in various areas. These also affect adolescents who are not considered addicted.

Other consequences of social media dependency:

• Escapism - One in three respondents uses social media so they do not have to think about unpleasant things. In the case of girls, this even applies to four out of ten respondents.
• Sleep Deficit - Nearly a quarter of those polled sometimes, often or even very often, get too little sleep because of using social media.
• Quarrels in the family - 22 percent argue sometimes, often or very often with parents about the use of social media; the 12 to 13-year-olds are more affected (32 percent).
• Secret Usage - 14 percent said they often secretly use social media. Equally many can not stop using it, although others have told them to do so urgently.
• Discontent dissatisfaction - 13 percent are unhappy if they can not use social media.
• Altered Friendships - Eight percent of respondents are in contact with all friends through social media only.
• Loss of interests - Five percent of respondents are no longer interested in hobbies or other activities because they prefer social media.

Mediate media literacy and set clear rules

To reduce the addiction risk of social media, according to Professor Rainer Thomasius requires more education and increased protection of minors. "Parents, teachers and educators need support to help children on their way to media-savvy users," says the expert. However, it should be noted "that parents often do not set clear rules for dealing with social media." However, these are urgently needed so that children do not slip unnoticed in dependence, the expert stresses.

The experts demand stricter legal requirements for the protection of minors in order to minimize the risk of social media addiction. (Image: sebra / fotolia.com)

Strict protection of minors demanded

Furthermore, according to the statement of Professor dr. Rainer Thomasius the protection of minors to be strengthened by strict rules for the providers of social media. Even technical solutions for self-restraint are useful tools to better control consumer behavior. "I find time and again that parents, when it comes to the online use of their children, seek guidance, and by a competent hand," adds the Drugs Commissioner of the Federal Government, Marlene Mortler in the press release of the DAK. Children need to learn how to handle digital media, and they should not only master the technology but also recognize the opportunities and risks of these media, Mortler continued.

Opt for online-offline balance

"It is clear, moreover, that the protection of minors has to respond even better to the services offered on the internet than has hitherto been possible, especially with regard to the addictive potential," emphasizes the Drug Commissioner of the Federal Government. The study has confirmed, "What we have long suspected: Too much of a smartphone and Co. harm the health and family life." Here, a reasonable online-offline balance is urgently needed. However, it also remains clear that social media are an indispensable part of our daily lives, according to Mortler. "Social media are important communication channels for children and young people", but the study shows that the intensive use of social media can lead to health and social problems, adds the DAK CEO Andreas Storm. (Fp)