My smartphone and I: Max 'live between social media and everyday life
My smartphone and I: Max 'live between social media and everyday life
Dolomitenstadt, Österreich - Max, a 15-year-old teenager, shares his personal relationship with his smartphone in the mini series "My cell phone and me". He has been in possession of a cell phone since he was tenth, starting with an iPhone SE and currently he uses an iPhone 14. Max belongs to the generation for which the smartphone is indispensable. His most used apps are Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram. For him, the average screen time in the event of illness is about 5 hours, while it is otherwise 2 to 3 hours. Despite this use, Max also appreciates real contact and prefers to play football with his friends than to look at his cell phone, which indicates a balanced relationship.
his cell phone use pattern seems well thought out. In the morning at breakfast, Max checks his hours in the UNTIS app and looks on Instagram for new followers and story views. Interestingly, he leaves his cell phone in his pocket during school and does not use it to school while cycling. In the evening before going to bed, he spends time with Insta-Reels. His lock screen shows a picture of him as a Krampus and the ringtone is a remix of Luude "Down Under". Max follows a new account with 1,400 subscribers after his first was blocked with 2,500 followers.
challenges of social media use
The experience of Max is not unusual, since current data show that 11 % of young people have symptoms of problematic use of social media. This number is particularly higher in girls. According to the WHO, 36 % of young people are constantly in contact with friends online. Such statistics illustrate the challenges associated with the use of social media, including a higher probability for sleep problems and a declining psychological well -being.
The indication that problematic users have lower mental and social well -being criteria. Similar trends were also found in the JIM study 2022, in which 95 % of the respondents explained to use the Internet every day. Platforms such as Instagram, Tiktok, YouTube and Snapchat are particularly popular among young people, whereby Instagram emerges as a leader with 31 %.
media literacy and support
dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge from the WHO emphasizes the need for media literacy and recommends interventions that are age -appropriate, gender -sensitive and culturally appropriate. Parents and schools in particular play a crucial role when it comes to helping young people to develop a healthy relationship with social media. Media literacy should therefore be a central component of the educational agenda. It is not only recommended to guide young people to critical examination of content, but also to train educators and health specialists accordingly.
In summary, it can be said that the use of social media for young people such as Max brings both positive aspects and challenges. While social media offer a platform for creative forms of expression and social ties, parents, educators and society have to perceive their responsibility as a whole in order to support young people in developing media literacy. Ultimately, this could contribute to alleviating the long -term effects on the mental health of young people.| Details | |
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| Ort | Dolomitenstadt, Österreich |
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