WHO: 28% of Romanian teens affected by “problematic” social media use

By Romania Journal Last updated Sep 25, 2024

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The “problematic” use of social networks is increasing among young Europeans, who are also facing a higher risk of developing addiction to online games. This issue is particularly prevalent among Romanian teenagers aged 13 and 15, according to a warning from the World Health Organization (WHO).

“We need immediate and sustained action to help adolescents end the potentially harmful use of social media, which has been shown to lead to depression, aggression, anxiety and poor school performance,” WHO Europe Director Hans Kluge said in a statement.

In 2022, 11% of teenagers (13% of girls and 9% of boys) showed signs of problematic social media use, compared to just 7% four years earlier, according to data from 280,000 young people aged 11, 13 and 15 years old from 44 countries in Europe, Central Asia and Canada.

The symptoms are similar to those of addiction: the inability to control excessive use, the feeling of deprivation and the abandonment of other activities in favor of social networks, and negative consequences of excessive use in everyday life.

This phenomenon is most widespread among Romanian teenagers aged 13 and 15, affecting 28% of them. At the opposite pole, the phenomenon is least present among Dutch teenagers (3%).

Another cause for concern is that one-third of teenagers access online games daily, with 22% playing for at least four hours, noted the WHO. It also highlighted that 12% of adolescents exhibit problematic gaming behavior (16% of boys and 7% of girls).

“It is essential to take action to protect young people, so they can navigate the digital landscape safely and make informed choices about their online activities, maximizing the benefits while minimizing risks to their mental and social well-being,” said Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, WHO representative for Europe.

WHO also emphasized the advantages of responsible social media use, particularly the connections formed among those who share the same passions and interests. According to the data, 36% of young people said they are in constant digital contact with their friends, with this percentage rising to 44% among 15-year-old girls.

“Young people must dominate social media, not let social media dominate them,” Azzopardi-Muscat stressed.

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