A relatively new 'problem'

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In a recent episode of De Universiteit van Nederland Podcast, the question 'Does social media make you unhappy?' is discussed. In it, sociologist Ina Koning (Utrecht University) talks about her research ( the DiYo project ) into social media addiction among high school students. She sees a connection between the degree of addiction and the adverse effects that young people experience, such as depression, insecurity and anxiety.

I myself come from the MSN and Hyves generation and came into contact with social media towards the end of primary school. In secondary school, Facebook was added. Still, I am grateful that Instagram did not exist at that time. I estimate that in that phase of my life I would also become (extra) insecure about those perfect pictures.

The availability of digital (social) media is therefore relatively new and something that the current whatsapp number list generation of young people is only really growing up with, says Koning. Do they perhaps just learn to deal with it as they grow older? Unfortunately not. Because this is only happening in the current generation of young people, it is difficult to look into the future. However, subsequent research by Maartje Boer (Utrecht University) already shows that the addiction of young people who already have clear symptoms around the age of 12/13 remains stable at least until the age of 15. This suggests that it is difficult to get rid of your addiction.

What would it be like if you were exposed to social media and its negative effects before you were 13? If Facebook follows through with its plans, the future will tell us.

Child with head on table behind laptop illustrating negative effects of social media on children