Everyone spends hours on social networks every day. But how many hours? What are the consequences of this habit for mental health and quality of life?
In recent years, the use of social networks has become a fundamental part of everyday life for millions of people around the world. However, the amount of time spent on them is significant and increasing. This raises questions about the impact that such intensive use can have on people’s mental health and well-being.
According to the Digital 2024 report, published by We Are Social in partnership with Meltwater, Italians spend an average of 5 hours and 49 minutes a day online. A significant part of this time is dedicated to social networks, with an increase of almost one minute compared to last year. This data suggests that social platforms are becoming increasingly integrated into users’ daily routines. A more detailed analysis of the use of different platforms shows that Telegram occupies its users for around 2 hours and 9 minutes per person per month, while Twitch records 1 hour and 21 minutes and Twitter/X 1 hour and 9 minutes. LinkedIn and Pinterest show lower levels of participation, with 13 and 18 minutes per user per month respectively.
Comparison with global averages
According to DataReportal, people around the world spend an average of 6 hours and 57 minutes a day online, including 2 hours and 27 minutes on social networks. Americans spend an average of 7 hours and 4 minutes, slightly above the British average. However, it is the South Africans who spend the most time in front of a screen, with an average of 10 hours and 45 minutes a day. So, the people who spend the most time in front of screens are in Africa, Asia and South America.
The increase in time spent on social networks has raised concerns about their impact on mental health.
Several studies have examined the relationship between intensive use of social networks and mental health problems. For example, research from the University of Malaga has shown that social platforms can exacerbate eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, perpetuate dangerous behaviours and promote body dissatisfaction, especially among young women.
Another study, published in the journal Frontiers, analysed the content of platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook and found that these media can perpetuate dangerous behaviours and promote body dissatisfaction, especially among young women. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this problem: according to a new study by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), the amount of time children spend in front of screens has increased dramatically during the pandemic. It was found that 90% of Canadian children exceeded the recommended limit of 2 hours per day, while the amount of time Tunisian children (aged 5 to 11) spent in front of screens increased by a staggering 111%.
For its part, the University of California looked at the amount of time teenagers spend in front of screens. The researchers found that 12- to 13-year-olds in the United States doubled the amount of time they spent in front of a screen for non-school-related activities to 7.7 hours in May 2020, up from 3.8 hours the day before the pandemic.
However, not all studies agree that there is a direct link between time spent on social media and depression. Some research suggests that it is not so much the amount of time spent on social media that negatively affects psychological well-being, but rather the type of use and possible digital addiction to these platforms.
Passive and compulsive use, such as constantly scrolling through content without actively interacting, can increase feelings of isolation and unhappiness. Conversely, using social networks to actively interact with friends and interest groups can have a neutral or even positive impact on well-being.
The impact of social networking also varies according to the age of the user. A study in Spain found that 20.22% of teenagers aged 12 to 18 spend more than two hours a day on TikTok, a use associated with lower self-esteem, greater stress and difficulty setting limits to use. Girls show higher levels of use than boys (24.3% compared to 15.4%). This excessive use is associated with problems such as eating disorders and mental health risks.
In the United States, a research has shown that teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 spend an average of up to eight hours a day on their smartphones, unable to ignore alerts even at their school desks, losing more than an hour of class time each day.
In some countries, this has led to the proposal of legislation to restrict young people’s use of smartphones, such as the ‘Safer Phones Bill’ in the UK, which aims to create smartphone-free school zones and raise the legal age for internet access to 16.
The use of social networks is deeply rooted in modern society and offers many benefits, such as connection with others and quick access to information. However, it is important to be aware of the potential risks associated with excessive or inappropriate use. Experts recommend setting time limits for the use of social networks, promoting offline activities and ensuring that the content consumed is of high quality and relevant. In addition, it is essential to educate the younger generations on the conscious and responsible use of digital platforms and to provide them with the necessary tools to navigate the online world in a safe and healthy way.
In conclusion, while social networks offer unprecedented opportunities to connect and inform, it is crucial to balance their use with practices that promote mental and physical well-being. Educating users to recognise and manage the impact of digital content is a key challenge for the future of the digital society.
