One in five young Spaniards spends more than two hours a day on TikTok

One in five young Spaniards spends more than two hours a day on the social network TikTokuse above the recommended threshold to avoid risks to cognitive and emotional well-being.

This is indicated by a study promoted by the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) and the Open University of Catalonia (UOC) for which it was carried out a survey of 1,043 young people from all over Spain between 12 and 18 years old. The objective was to examine the time they spend on TikTok and what content they prefer.

This report is part of the project Adolescent recipients and creators of content on mental health on social networksfinanced by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.

In addition to the conclusions offered by the study, it is proposed measures such as regular audits of the algorithm of TikTok in order to prevent its possible addictive effects. Other options are also considered, such as measures of parental control either educational programs to encourage healthy digital habits.

A daily habit for most

One of the main revelations of the project is that more than half of the young people surveyed (53.2%) spend more than an hour a day on the app35.3% more than an hour and a half and 20.2% more than two hours. Use for more than two hours is more common in girls (24.4%) than in boys (15.5%).

The promoters of the investigation have warned that use of more than two hours of social networks is associated with low self-esteem regarding body imagea negative perception of one’s own mental health or an increased risk of psychological stress or suicidal ideas.

Although the time spent on TikTok by young people is considerable, this contrasts with the self-perception of the level of digital well-being that they have, which is generally positive.

On a scale of 1 to 5, They rate their ability to set limits on consumption time with a 3.22, their emotional resilience to the content viewed with a 3.31, and the ability to generate social and community connections with a 3.64.

In this sense, those responsible for the study have warned that a excessive consumption of the application entails a series of consequences. “The longer these young people spend on TikTok, the less their capacity is when it comes to establishing limits on consumption of the application”, he highlighted Monika Jimenezfrom the UPF Communication Department and principal investigator of the project.

Specifically, those who stay more than two hours a day On TikTok they rate their ability to set limits with a 2.93 out of 5, while those who spend between half an hour and an hour rate it with a 3.33.

Persistence of gender roles

Another conclusion is that the content viewed by boys and girls reveal the persistence of traditional gender roles.

“The Boys are predominantly interested in video game content and professional sports, while girls they tend to consume more beauty and fashion content“, he detailed Mireia Mountainfrom the Information and Communication Sciences Studies at the UOC.

Both boys and girls They share their interest in comedy and music videosbut in the rest of the areas big differences emerge.

The five their favorite content are the comedy (3.24 out of 5), the music (3.22), the fashion (3.02), the beauty (3) and the dance (2.88), while theirs are the comedy (3.5), the video games (3.19), the music (3.06), the professional sports (3.01) and the news of influencers (2.92).

Given this situation, the study considers that educational programs are needed to promote healthy digital habits among young people. Thus, families would be equipped with more support strategies to make possible a better use of technologies, adding a look with a gender perspective.

In this sense, researchers have emphasized that restrictive measures do not workbut it is necessary to encourage each young person to maintain a moderate level of consumption of social networks that adapts to your interests and needs.