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Dangers on the Internet: How parents can protect young people from cyberbullying
Young people and social media: risks, opportunities and the importance of media literacy - insight into “Safer Internet Day” 2025.
Dangers on the Internet: How parents can protect young people from cyberbullying
The dangers of social media in the lives of young people are becoming increasingly visible. How Krone.at reports, a recent study shows that more than one in ten young people (11%) exhibit problematic behavior when using social media. Girls are particularly affected; at 13%, they have a higher rate of problem-free use than boys (9%). While young people are active on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat every day, many report negative effects such as cyberbullying or unrealistic beauty standards.
Young people's self-perception suffers from the pressure of being constantly present online. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights that over a third of young people are constantly online and that this virtual interaction brings not only social connections but also problems such as lack of sleep and mental stress. Negative consequences, such as lower mental well-being and higher substance use, are common among at-risk users WHO.
The immediate consequences of using social media
A third of young people play digital games every day, with more than 20% playing for over four hours on game days. This also leads to worrying patterns of behavior, as the WHO report makes clear. Among young people, 12% show signs of problematic gaming behavior, with boys (16%) being more affected than girls (7%). Dr. Kluge from the WHO warns that these problems not only affect the social life of young people, but can also endanger their health in the long term.
The WHO calls for specific measures to improve digital media literacy among young people. Because of them, educational offerings and open discussions in families and schools are necessary to reduce stigma and raise awareness of the risks and opportunities of the digital world. “It is crucial that we give young people the skills they need to use the internet safely and consciously,” emphasizes Dr. Kluge. Stakeholders, including governments and educational institutions, must work together to curb dangerous trends in social media use.