Digital addiction: Overuse of social networks is causing an anxiety epidemic among young people
Studies have shown an alarming dependence on cell phones and social networks among young people. And for the first time, records of the disorder among children and adolescents have surpassed those among adults.
Although anxiety is a normal and even beneficial emotion in some situations, it can become pathological when it begins to interfere with daily life, causing physical and emotional problems and interfering with the individual's quality of life. In these cases, it may indicate an anxiety disorder, which requires attention and, often, specialised treatment.
In recent history, anxiety has become more associated with the daily stress of modern life. The 20th century saw anxiety intensified by factors such as excessive use of social media and overexposure to digital stimuli. And that is what we will talk about here.
Recent studies have shown that the indiscriminate use of social media is turning anxiety into an epidemic among young people. In other words, cell phones are “an essential part of the global mental health crisis among minors,” experts say.
Digital Age Anxiety: Super-connected young people are becoming more anxious
Studies have shown that excessive cell phone use, constant exposure to social media and hyperconnectivity are the main factors in this anxiety crisis among young people.
“Generation Z was the first in history to go through puberty with a portal in their pocket that took them away from the people around them and transported them to an exciting, addictive, unstable and inappropriate alternative universe for children and adolescents,” writes Jonathan Haidt, professor at the
New York University, in his book entitled ‘The Anxious Generation: How Hyperconnected Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Disorders’.
According to Haidt, social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Facebook create an environment of constant social comparison, where young people are bombarded with images of supposedly perfect lives. And this has affected their lives.
“My central thesis is that these two trends — overprotection in the real world and lack of protection in the virtual world — are the main reasons why children born after 1995 have become the anxious generation,” says Haidt.
Another researcher, Jean Twenge, a professor at San Diego State University, says that young people born after 1995 (Generation Z) are the first to spend their entire adolescence in the digital world.
“Teenagers who spend more time in front of screens are more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety. They are also more likely to feel lonely and disconnected, even though they are always online,” she said.
It’s not just anxiety. This digital addiction also affects the quality of sleep, since the blue light emitted by screens suppresses the production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleep, and the constant stimulation of notifications keeps the brain in a state of alert.
How to combat this possible anxiety pandemic?
Experts advocate a multifaceted approach. It is important to promote digital education, teaching young people to use technology in a conscious and balanced way. The idea is to help them understand that what they see on social media is often not reality and that they need to disconnect and value interpersonal interactions, not just virtual ones. In addition, it is essential to invest in public policies that prioritise mental health.
Only joint work — governments, institutions, educators, parents and experts — can find a balance for the use of technology without compromising the mental health of future generations.