Vienna, February 4th, 2019 – More and more people are feeling stressed by the excessive use of digital devices and interest in “digital detox” offers is increasing. This development does not stop at young people either.

As our cooperation partner Safer Internet reports, more and more people are feeling stressed by excessive use of cell phones etc.

The current study by Safer Internet shows how young people deal with the pull of digital media.

On the occasion of the 16th international Safer Internet Day on February 5, 2019, Saferinternet.at is presenting a current study on the topic of “Young people in digital time stress” . The surprising result: 35 percent of young people are already aware of digital time stress. Parents in particular are required to act as contact persons here. Family rules for everyday life with smartphones etc. can help to reduce the pressure. And: The first pioneers among young people give practical tips for moderate online consumption in everyday life.

As part of the Saferinternet.at initiative, the Austrian Institute for Applied Telecommunications (ÖIAT) and ISPA – Internet Service Providers Austria commissioned the Institute for Youth Culture Research to carry out a study on the topic of “Young people in digital time stress”. 400 young people between the ages of 11 and 17 were interviewed in a representative online survey. The study was supplemented by focus groups and practical experiences from the Austria-wide Saferinternet.at workshops.

Young people are increasingly annoyed by excessive cell phone use

More than a third of respondents (35%) say that cell phones and other digital devices sometimes become too much for them. This applies more often to 15 to 17 year olds (44%) than to 11 to 14 year olds (27%). There are also differences between girls (40%) and boys (32%).

59 percent are annoyed that their friends look at their cell phones too much when they are out together. Almost as many (55%) find it annoying that they look at their smartphone too much . Young people are also critical of their parents : around one in three respondents (34%) are bothered by the fact that they spend too much time on their cell phones.

Stress of having to respond immediately

60 percent of young people expect to receive a response to messages on WhatsApp, Snapchat & Co immediately or at least within a few minutes . At the same time, these expectations are also one of the greatest stress factors for them .

Groups on social networks , where hundreds of messages are exchanged every day, increase this stress . It is often not easy, especially for younger people, to escape peer pressure. They fear social disadvantages and exclusion.

Source: Safer Internet / Infographic by Saferinternet.at/studioback
Source: Safer Internet / Infographic by Saferinternet.at/studioback

Reaching for your cell phone as soon as you wake up

The study shows that two thirds (66%) look at their cell phone for the first time no later than five minutes after waking up. Only 4 percent spend more than an hour doing it. It is therefore not surprising that 81 percent of young people keep their cell phones in their own rooms at night - 30 percent have them on and 21 percent have them in flight mode, in or right next to their bed and another 30 percent have them somewhere in the room.

“In the digital age, children and young people are required to deal with the temptations, constant availability and distraction of digital devices. They need support – especially from their parents,” says Bernhard Jungwirth, Saferinternet.at coordinator.

Parents demanded: family rules work

In 62 percent of the families of the young people surveyed, there are or already were rules regarding the use of digital devices. The most common are no cell phones when eating together, no cell phones when doing homework and time limits. At the same time, almost half of those surveyed are said to be constantly available to their family.

46 percent of those who currently have experience with rules also say they “always” or “almost always” stick to them and a further 43 percent “somewhat do.” Even if one or two of the young people's self-assessments have to be questioned, the encouraging message to parents is: making rules makes sense! Barbara Buchegger, educational director of Saferinternet.at, emphasizes: “For children to accept rules, it is crucial that there are also rules for parents. And that parents are just as willing to accept consequences and not resort to excuses. Children learn a huge amount from this parental behavior.”

First pioneers against digital time stress

There are now the first pioneers against digital time stress, especially among older young people. 28 percent of those surveyed stated that they had already gone on a “digital diet”, i.e. consciously given up cell phones and computers for a while. “I no longer want to feel under pressure to constantly have to react immediately,” is how a focus group participant and student (16 years old) describes her motivation.

The young people's practical tips for combating online stress include deactivating notifications, repeatedly switching on airplane mode, banning frequently used apps from the home screen and moving them to the back, and in certain everyday situations (e.g. waiting for the bus). to leave your cell phone in your pocket and, for example, just listen to music.

“We see that more and more apps and even operating system manufacturers are responding to this specific user need and are now offering assistance for the moderate use of digital devices. For example, certain apps enable “For example, muting at night or displaying the total time spent in the respective app per day,” explains ISPA Secretary General Maximilian Schubert.

Saferinternet.at supports you with numerous offers

Dealing with digital time stress needs to be learned. That's why Saferinternet.at supports parents, schools and young people themselves with tips and recommendations for everyday family life, workshops, teaching materials and numerous other information offerings, such as the video guide for parents “Ask Barbara!”. All offers and download and ordering options can be found at www.saferinternet.at .

Safer Internet Day 2019: More than 160 schools are taking part

The international Safer Internet Day will take place for the 16th time on February 5, 2019. In cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the Safer Internet Campaign Month will be held throughout February 2019. So far, more than 160 schools have responded to the call and started a wide variety of projects on the topics of internet security and media literacy.

Downloads:
Infographic “Digital Time Stress in Adolescents” (PDF)
Infographic “Digital Zeisstress in Adolescents” (PNG)
Presentation for the press conference (PDF)
Press release on the study “Digital Time Stress in Adolescents” (PDF)
Press release on the study “Digital Zeisstress in Adolescents”( DOCX)
Infographic “First aid for digital stress” (PNG)
Tips for parents (DOCX) Ideas
for conversations with children (DOCX)
APA photo gallery for the press conference on February 4th, 2019


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )