The Danish competition authority has released a study titled 'Young Consumers and Social Media,' which investigates the relationship between social media usage and the well-being of children and adolescents. The analysis indicates that while most children and young people enjoy social media, certain groups, particularly girls and those with low self-control, face significant challenges.

According to Jakob Hald, the director of the authority, girls, especially teenage girls, show a decline in school well-being over time after acquiring a smartphone, unlike boys whose well-being tends to improve slightly. The study found that girls experience a drop in school satisfaction coinciding with their use of preferred social media platforms.

While the majority of children and adolescents do not exhibit signs of social media addiction, about 20% of those aged 11-25 show moderate to severe symptoms. Teenage girls are particularly affected, with their rates of addiction symptoms being two to three times higher than those of boys. The average daily social media usage among children and young people is approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes, with 12% of girls spending over 5 hours daily.

The study also highlights that children and young people with lower self-control tend to spend more time on social media and experience higher levels of dependency. The environment plays a crucial role in self-control, as tempting surroundings require more effort to resist. Interestingly, the analysis did not find a direct correlation between social media usage time and overall well-being, although those showing signs of addiction reported spending more time online.

In terms of specific platforms, content-based media like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube tend to keep users engaged longer than chat-based platforms like Snapchat and Messenger. The authority is currently exploring ways to enhance young people's awareness of their social media consumption and reduce potential addiction.