In the past two years, one in three children between the ages of 8 and 17 have experienced some form of emotional disorder, such as anxiety or depression, caused by prolonged exposure to social media. These are the alarming conclusions of a study by the Save the Children Romania Organization.
Social media addiction leads to depression. Photo source: archive
According to the latest Save the Children research, the age range in which the use of social networks becomes significant is between 5 and 10 years.
“Anxiety and depression in children and adolescents manifest themselves more and more often in the context of the use of social networks. Anxiety brings with it intense fears, restlessness and difficulty concentrating, and depression is characterized by deep sadness, withdrawal and loss of interest in activities. Many of the children end up in therapy with symptoms such as lack of concentration, social isolation, insomnia or low self-esteem. These conditions affect their daily lives, from school performance to relationships with others, and require specialized intervention to learn to manage emotions healthily.”said Mihaela Dinu, Salvați Copiii clinical psychologist.
Romanian children, addicted to social networks
48.3% of children spend more than 6 hours a day online, in the case of a free day, whether we are talking about the weekend or a holiday, according to the data collected as part of the research carried out by the Save the Children Organization, most of this time being dedicated to social networks . There, young people are exposed to pressure to constantly compare themselves to others and gain approval through likes and comments, which magnifies feelings of inadequacy and frustration and can lead to significant emotional disturbances. The majority of children say that their values or interests find confirmation in the content they encounter on social networks, with 57% of them saying that social media helps them see their flaws.
“The alarming increase in cases of emotional disorders among children and adolescents, caused by the excessive use of social networks, is a problem that needs immediate attention. It is necessary to promote healthy leisure alternatives for children, together with parents.”, said Gabriela Alexandrescu, Executive President of the Save the Children Organization.
The Save the Children organization is launching a national awareness and education campaign aimed at children and teenagers, as well as parents and teachers, to combat the harmful effects of excessive social media use. The Perfect Stories Have No Filters campaign includes a series of conferences, interactive activities and educational resources designed to develop critical thinking and help children manage negative emotions caused by online pressures.
