By Gavin Mackintosh And Tony O’Reilly-
A new study from the University of Glasgow has revealed a concerning relationship between teenagers’ social media use and their alcohol consumption.
The research, published in the European Journal of Public Health, reveals the need for better guidance on screen time and highlights the potential risks associated with excessive social media use among adolescents.
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The study, titled “The relationship between time spent on social media and adolescent alcohol use: a longitudinal analysis of the UK Millennium Cohort Study,” delved into the lives of teenagers to uncover how their social media habits at the age of 14 influenced their alcohol consumption by the time they reached 17.
According to the study, teenagers who spent 30 minutes or more per day on social media at age 14 were more likely to report using alcohol by age 17 compared to those who spent less time on social media.
Those who devoted more than 30 minutes daily to social media were also more likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as binge drinking, according to the study.
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As the daily time spent on social media increased, so did the frequency of alcohol consumption and the quantity consumed.
Teenagers from socio-economically advantaged backgrounds who frequently used social media, were more likely to consume alcohol compared to their less advantaged peers.
The Impact of Excessive Social Media Use
As the research reveals, adolescents who spent between 30 minutes and under one hour daily on social media were 62% more likely to consume alcohol six or more times a month.
The Eye Of Media.Com has in the last week been discussing with both The Department Of Education, and regulator, Ofqual, concerning research findings about the dangers of excess social media used by idle teenagers .
Research also reveals that thousands of secondary school teenagers not allowed to take texts books home to read are highly susceptible to spending excess time on social media, subjecting themselves to the high risk of drink binging, and other addictions.
Additionally, they were 51% more likely to engage in binge drinking.
The study’s most alarming finding showed that teenagers spending two or more hours each day on social media were nearly five times more likely to use alcohol compared to those who spent one hour to less than 30 minutes daily on these platforms.
Amrit Kaur Purba, the lead author of the study, highlighted the need for tailored guidance on the appropriate amount of time young people should spend on social media.
She emphasized that this guidance should consider individual needs and circumstances. Moreover, Purba advocated for regulatory measures to shield teenagers from alcohol-related content on social media platforms.
Recognizing the intricate relationship between screen time, social media use, and adolescent health, the Scottish Government has taken steps to address this issue.
Since 2020, they have allocated approximately £360,000 to children and young people’s organizations to develop materials providing advice and support on healthy social media use and screen time.
As screens become an integral part of young people’s lives, finding a balance that promotes their well-being while safeguarding them from harmful influences is paramount.
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