Survey on the use of Instagram, TikTok & Co.Young people mostly have positive experiences on social media
The survey conducted by the Vodafone Foundation included the votes of 1,046 German-speaking young people aged between 14 and 20. The opinion research institute infratest dimap conducted the online survey. On average, the respondents had already received their first smartphone at the age of eleven. The young people's self-assessment of their social media consumption revealed that 71% use it moderately (up to four hours a day) and 27% use it intensively (over five hours a day). Only 2% use social media very rarely or not at all.
Young people have predominantly positive experiences with social media
Young people predominantly associate positive feelings such as joy, curiosity and relaxation with the use of social media. However, they also report negative feelings such as stress, loneliness or feelings of guilt to a much lesser extent. It is particularly interesting that around nine out of ten young people stated that their mood had not changed after using social media (74%) or was even better than before (14%). On average, therefore, only one in ten said that they felt worse after using social media than before.
The data from the survey shows a surprising result at this point. While only 7% of male respondents stated that they felt worse, the figure for female respondents was 18%. It was the people in the oldest surveyed group (18-20 years) with a high level of education who were particularly dissatisfied. They stated twice as often that they felt worse after using social media than the group of 14 to 17-year-olds with a low or medium level of education.
Dissatisfaction with the extent of social media use
The young people surveyed had mainly positive experiences with social media. After using , they mainly noticed no change at all or, to a lesser extent, even a positive change in their mood . However, most respondents were not satisfied with their own usage time and control over it. 75% stated that they frequently or occasionally spend more time on social media than they actually want to. Just over half (56%) stated that they often or at least occasionally try to use social media services less, but are unable to do so.
However, young people already know and use sensible strategies to reduce their exposure to digital services. These include, for example, setting up mobile-free times (used by 50%), avoiding social media use while studying (58%) or muting notifications (69%).
klicksafe materials on the topic of media use and digital wellbeing
We offer various materials to help young people develop a healthy and self-determined approach to digital services and devices. These are generally designed for use in schools, but can also be easily used in open youth work.
- With the help of the Digital Detox Box young people learn to evaluate their usage behavior, use digital devices more consciously and think about digital well-being. The strategies range from cell phone fasting and time-out exercises to hand-strengthening finger yoga.
- The teaching material "Ommm online" explains the strategies used by providers and the appeal of social media and provides young people with tools they can use to regulate technology and thus improve their digital wellbeing. This also includes creating a healthy balance in media and technology use and, for example, temporarily abstaining from media.
- To mark the publication of the klicksafe teaching material "Ommm online", a podcast episode with the communication scientist Dr. Ruth Wendt was produced. She provides answers on how we can increase our digital well-being. There is a particular focus on the question of how children and young people can learn to use digital media in a healthy way.
- Our poster "10 tips for digital wellbeing" contains helpful information for young people and can be ordered as a print version. If it is hung up in the classroom or PC room, for example, everyone can easily see the tips. You can also order a version to fill in yourself. You can find a suitable teaching unit in the teaching material "Ommm online".
