Tech Desk 
Oct 10, 2025
A recent study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe has revealed a concerning trend of increasing harmful social media use among teenagers.
Youngsters' harmful social media use rate increased from 7% in 2018 to 11% in 2022, according to the study.
The study found that online narratives that advocate violence, power, and wealth have an impact on roughly 73% of young people.
According to the survey, boys who regularly watch such material frequently experience emotional repression, loneliness, and low self-esteem. Their relationships and mental health may suffer as a result.
The fact that 68% of participants said they don't actively look for such content is concerning. Rather, it shows up on their social media feeds automatically.
This emphasises how important it is for parents and guardians to know what their kids are seeing online.
According to experts, this kind of content can incite violence in addition to normalising unfavourable views towards women.
They emphasise how critical it is for parents to have candid conversations with their kids about how social media affects their mental health.
To lessen the harmful effects of online content, experts are advising parents to promote involvement in healthy offline activities. Parents can foster positive self-image and healthy habits in their children by doing this.
The results of the survey highlight the necessity of parents, teachers, and other carers actively monitoring teens' online behaviour and encouraging safe online practices.
