Teenagers are struggling to stay away from platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Almost half of British teenagers say they feel addicted to social media, according to findings which are tracking the lives of about 19,000 people born in 2000-2002 across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Of the 7,000 16 to 18-year-olds who responded, 48% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, “I think I am addicted to social media.” A higher proportion of girls (57%) agreed compared to boys (37%). Last month, the European Parliament voted to adopt an initiative to make digital platforms less addictive. Since 2022, the Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee has been looking into the “addictive design of online services”, which refers to capturing users’ attention so they spend as much time on platforms as possible.
Is this any surprise, considering the number of young people you bump in to, walking down the street?
