1/3 young people say they can't switch off from the online world

One in three young people admit they can't stop going online, even if they think it's bad for their physical or mental health.

A new survey by young people's charity Stem4 has highlighted how "fear of missing out" or "FOMO" has led to over 12s struggling to take a break from their mobile phones.

It comes as millions of children return to school after the six week summer holiday.

Online life vs Real life

Stats show young people are now three times more likely to connect with friends online than they are to meet up in person.

Listen to Psychologist Dr Nihara Krause on this week's Mental Health Monday podcast

But lack of social connections in the real world, and pressure to look and behave a certain way online, has left half (50%) of young people saying they lack social confidence, and that anxiety and fear of rejection is holding them back from making new friends.

Two thirds (63%) of young people say they now go on social media every day to connect with friends.

This is while just one in three (28%) meet up with friends in person daily, four in ten (39%) weekly, and one in five (23%) monthly.

Spiderman backs Stem4

Last month 26-year-old actor Tom Holland, who plays Spiderman on the big screen, announced he had taken a social media break as social media apps had become “detrimental” to him as he would continue to read things about himself online and “spiral”.

He named Stem4 as a service that young people could check out if they wanted to learn more about their mental health.

A third (32%) of the young people told the survey they are unable to limit or reduce the amount of time they spend online, even if it would mean achieving better overall physical and mental health.

"There is an awful stigma against mental health and I know that asking for help and seeking help isn't something we should be ashamed of" the Spider-Man actor added.

Are you people addicted to social media?

Speaking to our Mental Health Monday Podcast, Stem4's Consultant Clinical Psychologist Dr Nihara Krause told us: "Purely by being young, by wanting to be part of your generation and your group you don't want to miss out.

"So even if you know what you're reading isn't helpful for you, it's counterbalanced by 'but if my mates are all going to meet up and I'm not going to be there,' then that overrides the 'it's making me feel awful.'"

Asked whether this was a sign that a large number of young people were addicted to mobile phone use, Dr Nihara said: "There's a compulsion to do it, and you can notice the negatives, but still somehow you're outweighing that.

"I think the term 'addiction' has been used tentatively and carefully but certainly we have what I call behavioural addictions which means these are behaviours that are very difficult to break, bringing about the same types of withdrawal that you might coming off a chemical addiction."

Find out more about the work of Stem4 ahead of Youth Mental Health Day in mid-September.

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