Australians’ growing social media addiction concerns mental health experts

AUSTRALIANS are squandering up to two to three hours a day on social­ media as psychologists warn of an epidemic of online envy and bullying.

One in three teenagers surveyed said the thought of being without a mobile phone was “distressing”.

AUSTRALIANS are squandering up to two to three hours a day on social­ media as psychologists warn of an epidemic of online envy and bullying.

An addiction to smartphones is afflicting teenagers as well as adults, who are ignoring real-world friends and family to pick fights with strangers on Facebook, trawl dating sites and stalk former partners.

New research from the Australian Psychological Society (APS) reveals teens are spending 3.3 hours a day on social media — with some logging in 50 times a day.

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The Digital Me survey shows 15 per cent of teens are contacted online by strangers every day — yet 60 per cent of parents fail to monitor their kids’ online activities and only one-third know children’s online passwords.

Adults average 2.6 hours a day scanning social media, the report shows, and nearly half admit to secretly following a former partner or friend online.

APS spokeswoman Dr Lyn O’Grady said anti-social behaviour and the pressure to “look good’’ was affecting the self-esteem and mental health of adults as well as children.

“Adults using Instagram are more likely to have low self-esteem and feel pressure to look good in photos,’’ she told The Saturday Telegraph.

“The temptation is to think that it’s teenagers who need protecting and that adults know better. But adults can also need support.”

One in three teenagers and one in five adults surveyed by the APS said the thought of being without a mobile phone was “distressing’’.

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And nearly half the adults who are heavy users of mobile phones said they felt “left out” after seeing photos of friends at events they had not been invited to attend.

One in four had argued with a stranger on social media, one in five had been bullied or trolled and 21 per cent admitted to having posted negative comments on other people’s social media posts.

Dr O’Grady said that parents often complain that teenagers “spend more time in the virtual world than the real world”.

“But for young people, the online world is part of their real world,” she said.

PRIME SURVEY STATS:

3.3 - hours teenagers spend on social media each day

2.6 - hours adults spend on social media each day

47% of adults have secretly followed an ex online.

45% of adults say it is easier to interact online than face to face

27% of adults have argued with a stranger on social media

29% of teenagers have been bullied or trolled on social media

42% of adults use social media 15 minutes before going to sleep

33% of adults use social media within 15 minutes of waking

15% - of teens are contacted by strangers on Facebook each day.

60% - of parents do not monitor children’s social media.

HOW TO SURVIVE SOCIAL MEDIA

Check less - change your settings so you don’t get constant notifications.

Think twice - how would your teacher, mother or employer react to your post?

Block the bullies - report, block, unfollow or unfriend people who offend you

Keep perspective - don’t compete with others in your network.

Set boundaries - unless you’re on call, don’t check work emails after-hours.

Switch off to sleep - turn off all devices an hour before bed.

Connect online - put the phone away and meet friends and family face-to-face

Source: Australian Psychological Society

Originally published as Australians’ growing social media addiction concerns mental health experts