Study Reveals One in Four Youths Struggle with Media Consumption Issues

A recent study has highlighted alarming trends regarding media consumption among children and adolescents in Germany, revealing that approximately 1.3 million young people are facing significant challenges related to their use of social media. The research, conducted by DAK-Gesundheit in collaboration with the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, indicates that over a quarter of individuals aged 10 to 17 exhibit problematic or pathological patterns of social media usage, with 4.7 percent classified as dependent users.

Compared to 2019, this statistic marks a staggering increase, as the proportion of youth exhibiting problematic social media habits was reported at just 11.4 percent prior to the pandemic. This represents an increase of 126 percent, underscoring the growing concerns surrounding digital engagement in an increasingly online world.

In addition to social media challenges, the study found that 12 percent of children and teenagers displayed problematic gaming behaviors, with 3.4 percent identified as pathological gamers. These figures reflect a slight decrease from 2019 when the numbers stood at 12.7 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively. However, the prevalence of problematic streaming usage has remained consistent since being tracked in 2022, with 16 percent of youth reported as problematic users and 2.6 percent considered dependent.

On average, respondents reported spending two and a half hours per day on social media platforms, a similar duration to previous years but an increase of half an hour compared to 2019. Gaming sessions averaged 105 minutes on weekdays, compared to 91 minutes in 2019, while streaming was reported at 93 minutes daily.

These findings raise crucial questions regarding the implications of excessive media consumption on the mental health and well-being of the younger generation. Experts emphasize the importance of monitoring and regulating media use among youths to mitigate potential negative effects and promote healthier relationships with technology.