Survey: 7 percent of Japanese teenagers suspected of social media addiction

Tokyo (ANTARA) - Seven percent of young people in Japan aged 10 to 19 are suspected to be “pathological” social media users, according to the latest survey by the National Hospital Organisation Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center.

The findings from the medical institution’s survey indicate that these teenagers are too addicted to reduce their mobile phone usage time.

The national survey also found the highest rate of social media usage among that age group.

Some research findings show a connection between social media use and crime as well as mental health problems among children.

To protect young people from the dangers of social media, countries such as Australia and Indonesia have banned those under 16 years old from using social media.

Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the Children and Family Agency have also discussed ways to handle the issue.

The survey, conducted in January and February 2025 by the medical institution based in Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo, covered 9,000 randomly selected individuals aged 10 to 79 at 400 locations nationwide, with responses received from 4,650 people.

The survey posed nine questions, including “Have you made unsuccessful efforts to reduce your (social media) usage?” and “Have you ever lied to friends or family about how much time you spend?”

Those who answered yes to at least five of the questions may be addicted to social media, according to the centre, which used a method developed overseas.

That threshold was exceeded by 7 percent of respondents aged 10 to 19, compared to 4.7 percent among those in their 20s.

The threshold was also exceeded by 1.1 percent among those in their 30s, 0.8 percent among those in their 40s, and 0.6 percent among those in their 50s.

Among those suspected of having problematic social media use, 30 percent said they spent “six hours or more” online on weekdays and 62 percent said they did so on weekends.

The centre recommends that households set rules for children’s smartphone use before purchase, specifying when and where the devices can be used and the consequences for breaking the rules. Additionally, parents are urged to “set a good example.”