The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed alarm at the “problematic” use of social networks among young Europeans, who are also more likely to develop a gambling addiction.
“We need immediate and sustained action to help teenagers stop the potentially damaging use of social media, which has been shown to lead to depression, bullying, anxiety and poor academic performance,” WHO Europe Director Hans Kluge said in a statement.
According to the UN health agency, in 2022, 11% of adolescents (13% of girls and 9% of boys) show signs of problematic use of social networks, up from 7% four years earlier, based on data obtained from 280,000 11, 13 and 15-year-olds from 44 countries in Europe, Central Asia and Canada.
In other words, they present 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 the negative consequences of excessive use in everyday life.
This phenomenon is most prevalent among Romanian teenagers aged 13 and 15, affecting 28% of them, and least prevalent among Dutch teenagers (3%).
Another source of concern is that a third of teenagers play online daily, and 22% of them for at least four hours, according to the WHO, which points out that 12% of the entire cohort of teenagers have a problematic gambling behavior (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 the benefits while minimizing the risks to their mental and social well-being,” said Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, head of WHO/Europe, quoted in a press release.
The UN agency does, however, emphasize the benefits of responsible use of social media, notably the bonding between those who share the same passions and interests.
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