Social media: Dangers for the mental health of young people!

Social media: Dangers for the mental health of young people!

On August 13, 2025, the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina published a major discussion paper entitled “Social media and the mental health of children and adolescents”. This documents the everyday use of social media by many children and young people in Germany and addresses the dangers associated with it. The authors warn against risky and addictive behavior and highlight both positive and negative effects on psychological, emotional and social well-being.

Positive things can come from social interaction on these platforms, but the possible negative aspects outweigh them. These include symptoms of depression and anxiety, attention problems and sleep disorders. These findings are consistent with observations that 11% of adolescents show signs of problematic behavior related to social media, with a higher proportion of girls at 13% than boys at 9%. Of particular concern is the fact that 36% of young people are constantly in touch with friends online, which is particularly the case for 15-year-old girls (44%).

Leopoldina’s recommendations for action

To protect children and young people from the negative consequences of social media, the paper suggests several measures. Key recommendations include:

• Altersabhängige Zugangs- und Funktionsbeschränkungen für soziale Medien.
• Das Verbot für Kinder unter 13 Jahren, eigene Social-Media-Accounts zu erstellen.
• Die gesetzlich geforderte elterliche Zustimmung für 13- bis 15-Jährige.
• Die altersgerechte Gestaltung sozialer Netzwerke für 13- bis 17-Jährige, einschließlich des Verbots von personalisierter Werbung und algorithmischen Empfehlungen.
• Ein Verbot der Nutzung von Smartphones in Kitas und Schulen bis zur 10. Klasse.

In addition, it is emphasized that there is a need for political action to implement the proposals at EU level and with the support of the German federal government. Another suggestion is the introduction of the “EUDI wallet” as a digital proof of age to make it easier to comply with age limits.

Necessity of media literacy

The discussion about the mental health of young people is also taken up by the WHO. Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge emphasizes the need to promote media literacy and suggests measures such as age restrictions for social media. In fact, previous studies show that problem users experience lower levels of mental and social well-being and are more likely to experience sleep deprivation and higher substance use.

Additionally, it is crucial to have open dialogues about digital wellness in families and schools. The Leopoldina calls for the training of education and health professionals to be strengthened in order to identify risky usage behavior at an early stage. In addition, low-threshold public health campaigns should be initiated to provide information about the influences of social media.

In summary, it is clear that in addition to the positive effects of social media, the risks must be taken seriously. Protective measures and targeted promotion of digital skills can help protect the well-being of children and young people as they grow up in an increasingly digital world. A concerted approach from politicians, educational institutions and families is necessary for safe and responsible use of social media.