German study shows 85% of teens experience negative effects from social media

A JIMplus study conducted in Germany found that 85 percent of adolescents report at least one negative impact from using social‑media platforms, including concentration problems, sleep disturbances and stress. The report argues that simple media‑literacy measures are insufficient; it calls for stricter age limits – such as banning unsupervised use for children under 13 – and highlights how platform design (recommendation algorithms, endless feeds, notifications and engagement incentives) drives compulsive usage.

Separately, youth‑work professionals in Baden‑Württemberg note that discussions about social media are often omitted in routine conversations with young people. They stress the need for staff to understand digital environments, ask about platform use, and address issues such as cyber‑bullying, harassment, harmful beauty ideals, misinformation and radicalisation. Improving dialogue is presented as a key preventive measure alongside regulatory action.