According to projections, more than four percent of 10- to 17-year-olds in Germany apparently show symptoms that indicate a computer game or social media addiction. This is the result of a study conducted by the German Center for Addiction Issues in Childhood and Adolescence (DZSKJ) on behalf of the health insurance company DAK.
The number of children and adolescents affected has increased parallel to Corona pandemic. While around 144,000 adolescents showed indications of pathological computer game behavior in 2019, there are already around 219,000 children and adolescents in 2021. The trend looks similar in the problematic use of social media platforms such as Tiktok, Snapchat, WhatsApp or Instagram: Here, the number of those affected rose from 171,000 in 2019 to 246,000 in 2021.
The data basis for the study was repeated surveys of 1250 parents and children conducted by the opinion research institute Forsa in autumn 2019, spring and autumn 2020 and summer 2021. Among other things, the participants were asked to indicate how many hours they had used social media or computer games on average on a normal school day in the past six months. In addition, the researchers wanted to know whether the children and adolescents were often online longer than intended and had the feeling that they could not stop playing or surfing.
Increased screen duration of about an hour
The results of the survey suggest that children and young people already spent more time on screen during the first corona lockdown in spring 2020: While the participants previously spent an average of two hours a day on Tiktok, Instagram and Co, it was more than three hours during the first lockdown. In November, the usage time fell again slightly, but remained significantly increased in the following period. In computer games, the time increased from one hour 23 minutes to two hours and 12 minutes.
It is obvious that the closed schools and the elimination of numerous leisure activities during the high phases of pandemic have contributed to this development. The researchers therefore strive for another survey in 2022 to see whether the effects last in the long term.
In 2022, gaming disorder will be listed as an independent diagnosis for the first time in the new edition of the WHO's classification system for diseases (ICD-11). Those who are affected can no longer control the duration and frequency of play. Gambling is more important than anything else, usually school, work, other hobbies and relationships are neglected – even if serious consequences threaten. In order to meet the criteria of computer game addiction, this condition must also last longer. So far, there is no separate diagnosis of »Internet addiction« or »social media addiction«. (dam)
