Addictive behaviour is on the rise, according to new figures from health insurer DAK-Gesundheit, which were made available to dpa in Berlin on Monday.
Last autumn, 21.5% of respondents reported risky use of social media – compared to 21.1% in September/October 2024. When it comes to online videos, 21.4% consumed a risky amount, compared to 13.4%.
The study found 6.6% of social media users and 4% of video users are considered to be addicted. This means around 350,000 children and young people have a “pathological” use of social media, DAK-Gesundheit estimated.
Combining those at risk with those addicted means more than one if four children or youth in Germany use social media in a problematic way.
To be pathological, the media must be used so excessively that usage is longer than planned or permitted and has negative consequences in other areas. These include arriving late to school, getting lower grades, experiencing sleep disorders and other symptoms that can accompany loss of control. Risky use is extensive, but not yet entrenched to a severe degree.
The study found children and young people use social media for an average of 2.7 hours on a normal weekday and 3.3 hours at the weekend. The average time spent using social media has therefore fallen slightly.
The chairman of DAK-Gesundheit, Andreas Storm, nevertheless called the development alarming.
“We must act quickly now to protect and strengthen our children,” he said. The introduction of age limits alone is not enough; more media literacy training is also needed.
Both parties in Germany’s coalition government are looking at ways of restricting children’s access to social media.
