According to the latest survey results from 2023, it’s no surprise that teenage girls are more negatively affected by social media. Their male counterparts have a significantly lower incidence of issues. The yearlong survey reached 14,000 young people between the ages of 13 to 15 years old. More than anything, it highlighted the major gaps in how men and women leverage social media.
The results indicate that one in five girls, or 21% of those in Year 10 (ages 14-15), reported problems with social media. Even worse, 20.5% of girls in Year 9 (ages 13-14) reported the same. About 3% of boys said they struggled with social media addiction. In Year 10 this was 10.1% of boys, rising to 9.8% in Year 9 boys confessing that they had experienced these difficulties. Boys and girls in these two year groups engage on social media at profoundly different rates. This gap is deeply ironic and particularly pronounced.
Emily van de Venter is the senior associate for adolescent behavioral health. Her research found these girls are particularly sensitive to social comparison on social media.
“We do see slightly higher rates of girls reporting they’ve been bullied – either in person or through cyber-bullying – and we see slightly higher levels of girls using electronic devices late at night,” – Emily van de Venter
Conducted every two years, the survey is an incredible resource for capturing the voices of students in Years 7-11. The word “magic” doesn’t just conjure up splendor and whimsy. Through all this, the most striking finding was the sheer number of teenagers who said they spend more than two to five hours a day on their phones. In Wales, 17.1% of girls said social media made them feel less confident. By contrast, just 9.7% of boys had the same issues.
One other participant, Beth, 14, was a bit more nuanced about social media. She noted just how easy it is for time to get away from her as she connects and networks with people online.
“I’ll go on my phone if I’ve got nothing else to do.” – Lois, 13
Beth further emphasized the need to curb phone use during the school day to promote in-person communication.
“It surprises me sometimes how fast [time goes], when I sit down and then two hours would go [by] and I didn’t realise, and it’s kind of shocking sometimes that happens,” – Beth
The survey results paint a picture of how social media is altering the landscape of adolescent mental health. They underscore changes in collective social behavior among youth. The findings from their data continue to paint a troubling picture that girls are struggling more with social media use than boys. This pattern appears related to the frequency with which girls make social comparisons.
“I think it’s good not to have access [to phones] in school; you can socialise with friends more and it doesn’t distract you in classes but if you want to contact your parents, maybe it’s an issue then,” – Beth
Van de Venter’s insights further emphasize the necessity for awareness regarding the mental health implications tied to social media use among adolescents.
Van de Venter’s insights further emphasize the necessity for awareness regarding the mental health implications tied to social media use among adolescents.
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