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1 in 4 teenagers couldn't
enjoy Christmas without social media
MORE than 1 in 4 teenagers; an
estimated 108,000 young people in the North West; say they couldn't enjoy
Christmas without social media according to a new survey carried out for The
Children's Society. Almost 1 in 3, 128,000, said they thought it was
getting harder to enjoy Christmas, while only 1 in 10 felt it was getting
easier. Many young people are left casting envious glances at their peers and
people they follow, with 31%, 124,000, saying that social media use at Christmas
makes them want more gifts and presents after having compared themselves to
others. 1 in 5 children think that friends on social media seem to be having a
better Christmas than them. However, 40% felt that social media made them think
more about those who are less fortunate than they are at Christmas time. The
poll of 1,010 13 to 17 year olds in England and Wales, conducted by Research Now
for The Children's Society, found a 32% increased their use of social media over
Christmas, with only 8% saying they spent less time on the online platforms. 47%
of all young people said they didn't spend enough time with friends during the
Christmas break, with 76% of those who use social media more at this time of
year saying they did so to see what their school friends were doing over the
holidays. Worryingly 13% said they use social media more at Christmas to help
them feel less alone, while 17% do so to escape family stress and 32% do so
because they feel bored.
Rob Jackson, North West Area Director at The Children's Society, said:-
"Christmas can be a stressful time for everyone, including children. Many miss
their friends whilst not at school and social media can represent an important
lifeline to the outside world. Although social media can have many benefits, we
know that overuse can be damaging to young people's well-being and may harm
their mental health. That is why parents need to be aware of what children are
doing online and more needs to be done to raise awareness about how to minimise
risks and help ensure use of social media is as positive an experience as
possible. It is also absolutely vital that parents talk to their children,
support them to see friends and encourage them to stay active. By doing so they
can help them to overcome the stresses of the season and enjoy the festive
spirit. There will however be many children this Christmas, with nowhere to
turn, and at The Children's Society we support thousands of these young people.
It is vital that more of them are able to access the support they need all year
round."
The Children's Society is calling for tougher regulation and decisive action by
social media companies to ensure the online world is safer for children and to
minimise risks like cyber bullying and online grooming. It wants to see clearer
child friendly guidelines, better advice on blocking people and reporting
issues, and quicker and more effective responses to reports of inappropriate
behaviour and material. Mr Reed added:- "The Government must do its
bit to make sure this happens, and we would urge it to listen to the voices of
young people in developing its proposed Code of Practice for social media
companies, which we would like to see in place as soon as possible."
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