Some numbers on the relationship between social networks and teenagers

The average age of access decreases, the hours on the platforms increase. And the smartphone becomes a companion when you can't sleep

TikTok (AFP / Getty Images) Cyberbullying, but also of disturbed sleep or even insomnia, are increasing among teenagers: these are the results of the survey “Teenagers and lifestyles ”, created by the Adolescence Laboratory and IARD Research Institute, two study centers for the youngest. The use of smartphones, now increasingly early, has important consequences. "Being constantly on showcase and psychologically dependent on the judgment of others" - says Maurizio Tucci, president of Laboratorio Adolescenza - "makes them insecure to the point of changing the way they communicate with each other".

Teens and social networks: a very close relationship

Always before and always more. This seems to be the axiom that best describes the relationship between kids and smartphones. About 60% of the respondents in the survey had their first cell phone between 10 and 11 years of age, but over 28% had it as a gift before the age of ten. We have confirmed this through several interviews with kids of that age group. Giorgia, 11, explains that she uses it “every day. My parents know what I'm doing, I have it mainly because I'm always away from home, so to communicate with them. "

And the social network? 54% begins its life in a network between the 11 and 12, and 12% even before the age of 10. Things are changing fast, and by comparing for example the data with those relating to the edition 2017 of the same survey shows that a precocizzazione of access to the media and a lack of knowledge of the tools . It is increasing the percentage of young people who do not use any tool for the protection of your profile. But social networks have a minimum age of access, you say. True, but this is not a reason to waiver the 47% indicates the minimum age to be able to access, the 20% of the age-to-case, and 23% to be the age of majority.

“ A dangerous onset in age, almost childlike,” says Tucci: “When it is not absolutely necessary psychological maturity to be able to use the tools of communication so powerful and insidious even to age much more mature. But beyond the hazards more visible, stay h24 in the arena of the virtual market place helps to increase the fragility of a generation of adolescents constantly in performance anxiety”.

The awareness of a lack in the relationship is clear between the teenagers. “It is easier to make friends online that live, although then I realize I'm not myself relate truly with the people, ” says Michael, 14 years. “ I like being able to contact my friends instantly, I don't like the fact that sometimes when you are together it is as if there were a glass that separates the persons, and each is in his own world with your phone, ” adds Martina, 15 years.

social bookmarks

confirms the progressive decline of Facebook and the rise of Instagram , there was also growth in Snapchat. It becomes a consistent use of the Telegram and This Crush, almost non-existent in 2016. The research will not take into consideration TikTok, that between late 2019 and early 2020 has exploded. WhatsApp ? Practically is not even considered to be a social, but a tool embedded in the smartphone. Martina, for example, says to use “very Tiktok, Netflix, Instagram, Whatsapp, on average, I'm 2 or 3 hours per day” .

Cyberbullying

A presence so massive on social leads to also interface with negative phenomena , such as cyberbullying. From the survey, in fact, is that 40% of young people came into contact, directly or indirectly, with episodes of cyberbullying. 56% says that the first thing to do when you become the victim of an episode of cyberbullying, you notify the parents.

Sleep and your smartphone

The falling asleep becomes an important theme in the era of smartphones. Only 6.8% of the boys interviewed said to sleep at least 9 hours a night, amount of sleep appropriate to their age, while 20% sleep less than 7 hours. Many of them also claim to have problems to fall asleep, and 66% (by 72.3% of girls) happen to wake up during the night and not be able to sleep again . And the phone, with the social world, are the inevitable companions of insomnia in adolescents. The circle is vicious, because what is a teenager when she fails to fall asleep? 44% of them surf the internet or use social. Read a book? Only the 10%.