New Study Delves into Social Media Addiction among German Youth
Social media has now invaded just about every facet of our
lives and while this can in many cases be a good thing, it is also wise to remember
the age-old adage of ‘everything in moderation’. Social media addiction is
becoming an increasingly widespread and publicised issue, one which carries
some potentially serious ramifications.
As such understanding the factors which lead to addiction,
and the damaging effects thereof, is a highly important endeavour. In line with
this school of thought a recent study conducted by German health insurance firm
DAK aimed to ascertain just that, analysing the social media habits of German
youths in order to gauge the true scope and ramifications of social media
addiction.
The study’s results are highly telling and somewhat concerning,
as they reveal that 2.6% of German youths aged between 12 and 17 are
addicted to social media apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Snapchat; the
equivalent of 100,000 individuals.
Particularly worrying is the clear connection between excessive
social media usage and issues such as lack of sleep, apathy, and a sense of
disconnect when not using the apps. Furthermore an overreliance on social media
networks has long been linked with serious mental health issues such as
depression, with one-in-three teenagers diagnosed with social media
addiction showing signs of the often damaging disorder.
Breaking the results down by gender it does appear that
females are more prone to social media addiction than their male counterparts,
with 3.4% of girls classified as addicted as compared to just 1.9% of boys.
Girls also spend longer on average each day browsing or posting on social media,
with female participants in the study averaging 3.5 hours per day. Across the
board with boys included this figure drops to 2.5 hours.
The social media use of these individuals also tends to
increase as they get older, making the issue only more prevalent. Given the
tentative link between excessive social media use and depression it is clear
that action must be taken, but that too is a complicated and sensitive
endeavour.
“We have shown that there is clearly a higher risk of
developing depression if you're addicted,” Andreas Storm, DAK board member,
told German public television. The researchers are also keen to point out however
that it is still unclear if there is a causal relationship or if those
youths who are prone to depression simply spend more time on social media,
which can exacerbate or trigger the condition.
Sam is an aspiring novelist with a passion for fantasy and crime thrillers. Currently working as Editor of Social Songbird, he hopes to one day drop that 'aspiring' prefix. Follow him @Songbird_Sam
Contact us on Twitter, on Facebook, or leave your comments below. To find out about social media training or management why not take a look at our website for more info: TheSMFGroup.com
New Study Delves into Social Media Addiction among German Youth
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Thursday, March 01, 2018
Rating:
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Thursday, March 01, 2018
Rating:
Unknown
Keeping you up to date on social media, digital marketing, apps, news & reviews. Social media, and digital marketing as a whole, are rapidly and constantly changing, adapting to new developments at an ever increasing rate. Just keeping up to date can be a nightmare. Our team of writers know their field, and keep an ear to the ground. We aim to keep you informed of all recent developments in the online world, and teach you a little something along the way. So whether you just want to stay connected, or gain some knowledge for yourself, the Social Songbird will keep on singing! More articles are posted every day so keep checking back! Join the discussion on Twitter - #SocialSongbird Or contact us directly - @SocialSongbird_
Entrepreneur, international speaker on Social Media Marketing. First one in the UK to write and speak in conferences about Twitter as a marketing tool. Consultant to Corporate Companies, Government Organizations, Marketing Managers and Business Owners.
Aspiring novelist with a passion for fantasy and crime thrillers. He hopes to one day drop that 'aspiring' prefix. He started as a writer and soon after he was made Executive Editor and Manager of the team at Social Songbird. A position he held for 5 years.
Adrienne is a passionate writer with experience in editing, content creation, and social media marketing. She’s a lover of animals, helping others improve their writing, and 2000s pop culture.
Musician, audio technician, professional tutor and a Cambridge university English student. Interested in writing, politics and obsessed with reading.
Recently graduated with a BA in English Literature from the University of Exeter, and he is about to study an MA in Journalism at the University of Sheffield. He is an aspiring journalist and novelist; in his free time he enjoys playing chess, listening to music and taking long walks through nature.
Lucy is an undergraduate BSc Politics and International Relations student at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Anna Coopey is a 4th year UG student in Classics at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She is a keen writer and researcher on a number of topics, varying from Modern Greek literature to revolutionary theory.
Ellie is a recent BA English Literature graduate and aspiring publisher with a passion for writing. Her favourite pastimes include reading and shopping.