Internet: Viele Jugendliche sehen Social-Media-Sucht im Umfeld

According to a recent survey commissioned by Postbank, the vast majority of teenagers aged 16 to 18 believe that many people in their surroundings are addicted to social media. Eight out of ten young people surveyed acknowledged the existence of social media addiction in their circle of friends and acquaintances. Girls and women were slightly more likely to express this view, with 82 percent compared to 78 percent of boys and men.

The survey indicated that a quarter of the respondents regarded risky social media usage as indicative of addiction, characterized by excessive usage beyond planned limits, leading to negative consequences in other areas of life. A study by insurance company DAK-Gesundheit revealed that over a quarter of all children and teenagers engage in risky or even pathological social media use, indicating an increasing trend of addiction.

Approximately 350,000 children and teenagers are reportedly addicted to social media. Even among adults, the tendency towards addiction is rising, as reported by the research and treatment center for mental health at the University of Bochum. In a study, more than a quarter of the research team found "addictive usage" of social media.

Many teenagers are critical of the negative content spread on social networks. Around half of the respondents have unsubscribed from a channel due to excessive aggression or misinformation, while a third deactivated their own profile at least once, leading to a break from the platform. Compared to the previous two years, slightly fewer young people admitted to having taken this step.

According to Postbank, the "Youth Digital Study 2026" is representative. The survey polled 1,000 teenagers aged 16 to 18 in July through the online panel Toluna.