A recent study conducted by the international Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) reveals that the share of children aged 11 to 15 who may be addicted to social media has increased in the Czech Republic over the past four years. The study, which involved nearly 14,900 children from various schools across the country, found that the percentage of children at risk of social media addiction rose from 5% in 2018 to 8% in 2022.

The study also highlighted that girls are more susceptible to social media addiction compared to boys. Michal Kalman, the head of the research team, and Petr Badura, a data analyst from Palacky University, presented the study’s findings at a press conference in Prague. These results are part of a larger study being conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) to monitor the lifestyle of schoolchildren. The final study, including data from 51 countries, is scheduled to be published in the autumn.

In comparison to other countries, Czech children were below average in their internet usage according to the previous survey in 2018. Countries like Malta, Spain, and Romania had the highest percentage of problematic users, around 15% each, while the Netherlands, Israel, and Switzerland had the lowest share at around 3 to 4%.

The study identified that 18% of the children surveyed do not have a social media profile, with half of the respondents using social media regularly. The majority of users access social media every day but not necessarily during every free moment. However, 23% of the respondents were classified as intensive users, spending nearly all their free time on social media.

Children showing symptoms of problematic social media use, accounting for 8% of respondents, demonstrated various negative effects. These children experienced difficulty sleeping, increased risk of depression, irritability, loneliness, emotional problems, and poorer academic performance. Additionally, they were more likely to consume energy drinks and alcohol, engage in less physical exercise, face relationship issues with peers and parents, be susceptible to bullying, and engage in frequent lying.

On the other hand, intensive social media users did not exhibit significant disruptions to their normal functioning but were more prone to drinking alcohol, smoking, irritability, loneliness, and boredom.

The study also highlighted gender differences, indicating that addiction signs were observed in 7% of 11-year-old girls and boys. Among 15-year-olds, 10% of girls and 5% of boys displayed problematic social media use. Furthermore, 30% of 15-year-old girls and 25% of 15-year-old boys were identified as intensive social media users.

It is worth noting that the research team emphasized that a healthy level of social networking and gaming is not inherently harmful and is a normal way for children and adolescents to spend leisure time. However, it is important to address the negative impacts associated with excessive social media use and ensure that children maintain a balanced lifestyle.

Article by Prague Forum