A digital environment that protects health and prevents addiction
Studies indicate that current digital development is leading to various impacts on minors’ health. Experts like Jonathan Haidt have observed an alarming rise in mental health issues among minors in the U.S. between 2011 and 2013, coinciding with the spread of smartphones.
At Digital Safe for Minors, we advocate for a healthy digital environment that respects the evolving autonomy of minors and moves away from addictive designs that exploit their attention.
The situation in data
Multiple health complaints among adolescents have risen sharply across Europe
The WHO-coordinated Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study shows a sustained increase in the prevalence of multiple health complaints among minors aged 11 to 15 across participating countries. On average, the share of minors reporting two or more recurrent health complaints rose from 33% in 2014 to 36% in 2018, reaching 44% in 2022.
Increase in adolescents reporting multiple recurrent health complaints (2014–2022)
Average life satisfaction among adolescents (scale 0–10), 2018–2022
Life satisfaction among minors is declining in Europe
According to the WHO-coordinated HBSC study, average life satisfaction among minors decreased from 7.74 in 2017/2018 to 7.47 in 2022. The decline was more pronounced among girls, widening gender differences in adolescent well-being.
Frequent health complaints among minors aged 11 to 15
One in three minors (33%) experienced feeling nervous or irritable more than once a week during the past six months. In addition, nearly one in four reported sleep difficulties (29%) and/or feeling low (25%), while one in five (20%) reported having headaches more than once a week.
Prevalence of frequent health complaints among minors aged 11 – 15 (%)
Percentage of 15-year-old students who have experienced cyberbullying across the OECD
Adolescents’ exposure to cyberbullying is increasing across all OECD countries. On average, one in six 11- to 15-year-olds reported experiencing cyberbullying in 2021–22
The report also notes that slightly more than 10% of teenagers aged 11 to 15 reported having engaged in cyberbullying.
Suicide is now the leading cause of death among young people in Europe
Eurofound, the European Union Agency for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, reports that in 2021 suicide accounted for 18.9% of deaths among young people aged 15 to 29 in Europe, surpassing road traffic accidents (16.5%).
While suicide rates in Europe declined overall between 2011 and 2021, falling from 12.4 to 10.2 deaths per 100,000 people, this downward trend has stalled since 2017, with recent increases observed, particularly between 2021 and 2022.
Percentage of 15-year-old students who have experienced cyberbullying across the OECD
“The inappropriate use of technology leads to the loss of healthy habits, mental fatigue, and pressure related to self-image, while also exposing children and adolescents to risks such as cyberbullying and inappropriate content”
“Giving a child a mobile phone just to keep them under control or help them fit in is simply not worth it.”
Lucía Galán
Paediatrician, Science Communicator, and Co-founder of Centro Creciendo
“Psychiatric units are overwhelmed with minors.”
Addressing addictive design: an issue yet to be tackled
Significant increase in problematic social media use among minors in Europe.
Data from the WHO Regional Office for Europe reveal a sharp rise in problematic social media use among adolescents, with rates increasing from 7% in 2018 to 11% in 2022. This, together with findings that 12% of adolescents are at risk of problematic video game use, raises urgent concerns about the impact of digital technology on young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
These findings come from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, which surveyed nearly 280,000 young people aged 11, 13 and 15 across 44 countries and regions in Europe, Central Asia and Canada in 2022.
Seventeen percent of 15-year-old students across the OECD say they feel nervous or anxious without their digital devices
In nearly every country across the OECD, girls (22%) are significantly more likely than boys (13%) to experience this anxiety.
“Gaming and sleep habits depend on each of us, but social media is designed to be addictive”
“Screens are designed to trap people, and young people are often unaware of their addiction, downplaying it.”
“As designed, social media targets core brain functions in children, influencing their self-esteem and identity”
Over 90% of children aged 4 to 10 exceed the healthy limit for screen time.
According to this study by AIJU and the Fundación Crecer Jugando, 80% of specialists have also observed an increase in device-related health issues, leading to sleep loss, myopia, anxiety, overweight, and attention difficulties, among other problems.
Screen time among children and young people has increased by 11.33 hours per week.
According to the “PASOS” study, the average daily screen time has increased by 99.32 minutes on weekdays and 91.51 minutes on weekends among participants aged 10 to 22.
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Your voice matters. By sharing your experience, you give strength and hope to those who may be going through a similar situation, while also helping us create a safer digital space for minors.
Photo by Delcio F.
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