Warum Social Media für Kinder verboten werden sollte: Ein Blick auf Australien und wissenschaftliche Hintergründe

Australia has begun to regulate access to social media for children, and in some cases, to prohibit it altogether. This decision is based on scientific findings showing that social media can have significant psychological and physical effects on children and adolescents. This article explores the reasons and studies leading to these measures.

1. Psychological Impacts and the Comparison Trap

Young girls are especially vulnerable to the negative effects of social media. Studies indicate that constant exposure to edited and often unrealistic portrayals on platforms like Instagram and TikTok can lead to increased comparison, self-esteem issues, and even depression. According to a study by Twenge and Martin (2018), the risk of depressive symptoms and anxiety increases in teens who spend more than three hours a day on social media.

Girls are particularly affected, as they are more responsive to social comparisons and can be easily influenced by perfectly curated images. Comparisons become a constant companion, damaging self-worth as they struggle to match their reality to these idealized worlds. Boys are also affected, though often in different areas, such as performance pressure and portrayals of "masculinity."

Character Traits Matter Too

A study has shown that individuals with high neuroticism who spend more than 300 minutes daily on social media have double the risk of depression compared to those with low neuroticism. Additionally, people with high agreeableness have a 49% lower risk of depression than those with lower agreeableness.

Social media enhances problematic social comparisons, which can increase negative emotions. This explains why the risk of depression grows with greater social media use. Negative content on these platforms can also fuel depressive feelings and isolation. Additionally, extensive social media use reduces time and opportunities for personal interactions and real-life activities, further impacting mental health.

Cause or Effect?

Another interesting aspect is whether social media is a cause or an effect of depression. A study published in JAMA Network Open examined 5,395 adults with an average age of 56. Findings indicated that users of platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Snapchat are more likely to experience depression than non-users. However, it remains unclear whether social media actually causes depression, or if individuals with preexisting depressive tendencies are more likely to use social media. Researchers suspect both factors may reinforce each other, making the psychological impact of social media complex and difficult to separate.

2. Lack of Differentiation Ability and Problematic Content

Children and adolescents under the age of 16 often lack a fully developed ability to differentiate. They cannot easily distinguish between credible and questionable information, making them susceptible to misinformation, propaganda, and manipulated content. According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, abstract and critical thinking only fully develop around age 16.

Moreover, there are numerous dangers on social media platforms. Pornography, gambling, and fraudulent content are just a few of the problematic areas that children may encounter. Not all parents are aware of these risks or have personal experience with social media, making it challenging to protect their children adequately. Many children thus find themselves in dangerous situations without their parents’ awareness.

3. Loss of Time and Decline in Creativity

Another reason against social media use for children is the tremendous loss of time. Children spend hours scrolling through endless feeds, losing valuable time for other activities, learning, or social interactions. Studies show that children who use social media intensively are less creative, as they miss the "boredom" that fosters creativity. When constantly entertained, they miss opportunities to be imaginative and develop their own ideas.

Additionally, social media activates the brain's reward system, creating a type of dependency. Quick and easy rewards through likes and comments are enticing for the human brain and hard to replace with more complex, long-term rewards. This phenomenon isn’t exclusive to children, but is also a concern for adults, which makes it even more worrying.

4. Insufficient and Often Irrelevant Information

A large portion of content on social media platforms consists of "junk information" – content that is neither relevant nor valuable. This constant flow of irrelevant information leads to overstimulation, preventing children from engaging with more meaningful and deeper topics. The "automation paradox" describes how constant access to information reduces personal knowledge and critical thinking, as information is passively consumed without question.

5. Moral Contagion

What is Moral Contagion?
Moral contagion, also known as social contagion, describes a phenomenon where a person's behavior and attitudes are influenced by the behavior and opinions of those around them. This influence can have both positive and negative effects. In the context of spreading fake news, moral contagion is particularly problematic as people are often influenced by the opinions and actions of friends and acquaintances, rather than focusing on facts.

How Does Moral Contagion Affect the Spread of Fake News?
The spread of fake news on social media is often a direct result of moral contagion. A typical example is confirmation bias, where people tend to accept information that aligns with their existing beliefs. This leads many to share unchecked information that aligns with their views without verifying its accuracy.

The Photo Highlights the Impact of Moral Contagion
The image here vividly shows how moral contagion works: People tend to stay in their own opinion "bubble," while alternative perspectives remain outside. This demonstrates how social media fuels polarization and distances us from an objective reality. Each person lives in their own subjective reality, which is significantly amplified by social media.

6. Health Impacts of Excessive Digital Device Use

Beyond psychological effects, there are serious health risks associated with excessive digital device use:

  • Sleep Disturbances: Blue light from screens suppresses melatonin, disrupting the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. This can lead to sleep problems, especially in adolescents. Not only blue light but also artificial light in general can negatively affect sleep. According to studies by Harvard Medical School, blue light can delay sleep onset by up to three hours, while normal artificial light causes about a 1.5-hour delay.

  • Lack of Physical Activity: Time spent in front of screens promotes a sedentary lifestyle, increasing the risk of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and muscular issues.

  • Unhealthy Eating Habits: Prolonged screen time is associated with increased consumption of junk food, sugary drinks, energy drinks, and caffeine, all of which negatively impact health.

7. The "Always-On" Lifestyle and Stress

In our 24/7 society, constant availability fosters an "always-on" lifestyle, leading to stress and a sense of always needing to be available. This also applies to teenagers, who often feel pressured to respond to messages immediately or stay up-to-date. This type of stress is amplified by the lack of boundaries between free time and the digital world, potentially leading to burnout-like states.

According to a study by Zapf & Sommer (2004), chronic stress can indirectly cause health problems, which can also be applied to excessive digital stress in young people.

8. Advantages & Disadvantages

While social media also offers benefits, especially for older users, these should not be overemphasized – particularly when compared to the downsides for young people under 16. Platforms often promote creativity among older or younger users through the creation of images, videos, and texts. Furthermore, supportive communities can help strengthen mental health, and social media offers valuable marketing opportunities for small and large companies alike. They also allow users to stay in touch with friends and family, keep up with current topics, and even start careers.

However, these advantages do not outweigh the significant risks social media poses to children and adolescents. Especially for the younger generation, the negative effects on mental and physical health, the promotion of comparison behavior, and the dependency on quick rewards are far more impactful.

9. Challenges of Regulation

Regulating social media for children and teens comes with its own challenges. Many young people may try to bypass these restrictions, either by falsifying their age or accessing accounts via family members. Nevertheless, there are promising solutions and approaches to overcome these hurdles. Verification through official ID documents or specialized age verification systems could ensure that only eligible age groups access specific content. Techniques such as facial recognition or biometric age checks are also being considered. It will be crucial to develop thoughtful measures that provide protection while respecting user privacy.

10. Summary & Need for Further Research

Australia has taken a bold step to protect children from the negative effects of social media. The dangers are diverse, ranging from psychological issues like depression and low self-esteem to physical health problems. Social media poses the risk of trapping children in an endless cycle of comparisons and rewards, hindering their development of genuine self-worth and creativity. A controlled approach to social media or even a ban for younger users can promote healthy development and shield them from unnecessary risks.

It is evident that further research is needed to fully understand the complex effects of social media on mental health. Future studies should investigate which aspects of use are particularly harmful and how effective regulation could look – both in terms of content and daily usage time that does not carry major risks for mental health.

Adults are also not immune to the negative effects, underscoring the need for clear guidance and targeted measures to prevent long-term harm. Such regulations could include age-appropriate restrictions and recommendations for healthy screen time that minimize harmful impacts for both teenagers and adults.

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Written by Mara Schär

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