Teens who spend more than 5-6 hours on the Internet are more likely to suffer from depression. Low self-esteem and dissatisfaction with appearance are also exacerbated when using social networks. The results of the study were published in the journal Clinical Medicine.
Over 3 hours a day on the Internet hurt a teenager?
Social networks - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter - attract many young people. A recent study involved 11,000 people. 43% of girls and 22% of boys said they spend more than 3 hours a day on the Internet. Only 4% of girls and 10% of boys did not use electronic communication with friends.
Teenagers who have been on social media all day are more likely to suffer from depressive moods. Girls who were active on the networks 3 to 5 hours a day had signs of depression.
With online activity more than 5 hours a day, this proportion increased to 50%. In boys, the risk of developing depressed mood ranges from 21% to 35%.
Is trolling one of the reasons?
The study also shows that not only pleasant messages are exchanged on the Internet. 40% of girls and 25% of boys say they have been harassed online or even targeted by cyberbullying. In individuals, bullying easily leads to depressive disorders.
The higher prevalence of depression in girls is due to attacks on their appearance. In adulthood, they are prone to negative body image and low self-esteem, which contributes to the development of depressive symptoms.
However, depression also makes girls and boys neglect their appearance or be less confident. This makes them more likely victims of cyberbullying or bullying.
The study found another link indicating a possible pathophysiological mechanism. Many teenagers neglect sleep and normal food, so they suffer from unpleasant symptoms.
Does the Internet promote obesity?
Mental disorders are not the only problem that arises as a result of the Internet. Russell Wiener also describes a link to obesity, unhealthy diets, and poor quality of life. But there is no evidence of causality here either.
The president of the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) recommends that parents limit their teenagers to stay at the computer. However, parents and adolescents must engage in dialogue and work out some rules together.
Are social networks the most dangerous part of the internet?
About 100,000 children and adolescents in Russia are dependent on social networks. 2.6% of children aged 12 to 17 years are dependent on Weiber, Instagram and VKontakte.
Social networks have a major impact on health and social life.
As the study shows, girls are more likely to be socially dependent (3.4%) than boys (1.9%). Statistically, however, this difference is not significant. Girls tend to communicate more on social networks. As they grow older, they devote more and more time to Instagram, VKontakte and other services. Girls aged 16 to 17 spend almost 3 and a half hours a day on social networks.
The longer and more often children and adolescents are online, the higher the risk of addiction. The massive use of social networks can create health and social problems.
8% of users between 12 and 17 years old say that they use social networks only to communicate with their friends. 6% of respondents often argue with parents about the use of social networks. Nearly ¼ people also say they don’t get enough sleep due to chat.
Of particular concern, according to the authors, is the connection with depression. The risk of developing depression for everyone who depends on social networks is 4.6% higher. 1 out of 3 adolescents classified as dependent reports symptoms. According to Canadian scientists, people with depression are more likely to visit the virtual world.
Skeptics believe that there is an inverse causal relationship: teens visit the Internet because they have depression, and not vice versa. Therefore, it makes sense to go with a child to a psychologist or psychiatrist if his addiction is disturbing.
