A recent report has revealed that teenage girls in Wales experience problematic social media use at significantly higher rates than their male counterparts. These results show a clear disparity in social media usage. A sizeable 17.1 percent of girls reported trouble, while just 9.7 percent of boys sounded the alarm. The data shed light on a troubling trend among adolescents, especially those aged 13 to 15 years old.
The report illustrates that 1 in 5 girls in this age group finds social media use difficult to manage. One in ten boys do not have the same difficulties. Perhaps most troubling, girls in Year 10, ages 14-15, had the highest rates of problematic use—up 21%. Coming in third were girls in Year 9 (13-14), of whom 20.5% said they had experienced the same. By comparison, just 10.1% of Year 10 boys and 9.8% of Year 9 boys said they experienced the same.
Social media addiction means having a difficult time cutting back on how much time you’re spending online. It would cover the conflicts created by your active engagement on these platforms. Many teenagers disclose spending between two and five hours a day on their phones, which raises concerns about the impact on their well-being and social interactions.
The Estyn report issued on May 8 touched on the increasing levels of intimidating and violent behavior found in many schools throughout Wales. This behavior frequently dismantled friend groups. It was the result of social media backlash and struggles with self-esteem.
Drawing on these evidence-based conclusions, legislators will participate in a lively debate at the Senedd on May 14. Specifically, they’ll dive into why some cities and states are moving to ban smartphones in schools. The goal is to address the harmful effects of social media on students’ mental health and academic performance.
Beth, a 14-year-old student, commented on her experience with social media, stating, “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.” She expressed her thoughts on smartphone use in schools, saying, “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.”
Lois, a 13-year-old peer, shared her perspective as well: “I’ll go on my phone if I’ve got nothing else to do.” Additionally, she noted that after school, she finds comfort in scrolling through social media: “Sometimes after school, it’s nice to be able to sit down and look at what everyone else is doing in the world and not having to think about anything, just watch something.”
Ms. van de Venter remarked on the concerning trends observed among female students: “We do see slightly higher rates of girls reporting they’ve been bullied—either in person or cyber-bullying—and we see slightly higher levels of girls using electronic devices late at night, for example.”
The differences reported are these just under problematic social media use really jump off the page. These differences beg important questions about the effects of digital engagement on adolescent mental health. If the debate to be heard in the Senedd soon passes, it will usher in enormous changes on how schools adopt their mobile phone policies.
