More than half of American teenagers use social media nearly five hours a day, survey finds

A new Gallup survey found that more than half of teenagers in the United States spend an average of 4.8 hours on social media every day. Responses came from 1,591 people ages 13 to 19, and the survey results show that as teens get older, they stay on social media even longer.

Gallup also surveyed the children’s parents, asking about their parenting practices, parent-child relationships and youth activities, among other things. The results examined data from 6,643 parents and found that social media use was more prevalent among girls, noting that 55% of them spent an average of 5.3 hours online. At the same time, 48% of adolescents spend 4.4 hours on social networks, with usage peaking for both sexes at 17 years old.

The survey covered social media usage on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, FacebookX formerly called Twitter and WhatsApp. Gallup found that among all platforms, teens spend little time on WhatsApp, X and Facebook in favor of YouTube (1.9 hours), TikTok (1.5 hours) and Instagram (0.9 hours).

Gallup Questions if social media addiction is a contributing factor to the number of hours teens spend online each day, saying: “Studies have highlighted how tech companies manipulate users into spending more time on apps through their designs. The report references a 2022 article published in the American Economic Review that says 31% of young adults are affected by the way social media companies design platforms, reportedly creating self-control issues and stress. excessive use of screen time.

Social media platforms generate surges of dopamine to the brain to keep consumers coming back again and again, Dr. Nancy Deangelis, director of behavioral health at Jefferson Health said in an article for the health system. Shares, likes and comments on these platforms trigger the brain’s reward center, leading to an effect similar to what people feel when gambling or using drugs.

Teenagers are more susceptible to these triggers, Deangelis says, because they access social media during their second greatest period of brain development.

Overuse of social media can actually reprogram a young child or adolescent’s brain to constantly seek immediate gratification, leading to obsessive, compulsive and addictive behaviors, DeAngelis said.

The addictive nature of social media can worsen mental health disordersshe warns, including symptoms of anxiety, depression, ADHD, body dysmorphia and others.

THE Addiction Centerowned by Recovery Worldwide, identifies young people who abuse social media as having a social media addiction, saying they fall into this category if they spend a lot of time planning their use or thinking about online platforms, using them to forget about their problems, and if they find that it has a negative impact on their work or studies.

The center said 27 percent of teens with mental health issues spent three hours or more on social media, and teens who used social media excessively had serious delays in their social interaction skills.

Earlier this year, the The United States Surgeon General and the American Psychological Association have issued health advisories regarding the potential harm of social media on young people, highlighting the effect it has on brain development, but said more research is needed to assess the overall impact of social media on adolescents. However, there is growing evidence that social media use is associated with harm to young people’s mental health, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said at a U.S. Department of Health conference. Health and Social Services. Press release in May.

Children are exposed to harmful content on social media, ranging from violent and sexual content to bullying and harassment, he said. And for too many children, social media use compromises their sleep and the precious time they spend in person with family and friends. We are in the midst of a national youth mental health crisis, and I fear that social media is a significant driver of this crisis that we urgently need to address.