Problematic social media use among adolescents has been on the rise. The World Health Organization (WHO) revealed an alarming growth in addiction-like tendencies among teens, jumping from 7% in 2018 to 11% in 2022. Particularly troubling is the gender disparity: 13% of girls exhibit these behaviors compared to 9% of boys.

Problematic media use is when someone uses media in a way that negatively impacts their daily life. It can include excessive use of social media, video games, or other screen media. The signs of problematic media use include:

• Mindlessly scrolling
• Feeling withdrawal when not online
• Obsessively following strangers online
• Spending too much time online
• Doing risky things for online attention
• Interfering with daily functioning

Problematic Media Use in Teens: Similarly, teens may face significant risks from problematic media use. Exposure to harmful or inappropriate online content has been linked to adverse impacts on mental health. Alarmingly, there have been cases where teens engaged in self-harm or died by suicide after encountering such harmful content.

These habits often manifest in behaviors like neglecting real-world responsibilities, becoming irritable without access to screens, and suffering from sleep deprivation. As teens spend more time scrolling, parents worry about the long-term toll on mental health and personal growth.