Dependence on Instagram & Co.

Dependence on Instagram & Co.: More than one in two people are critical of their own social media activities

Whether Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or Twitter: social media play a major role in the everyday lives of many people. However, as their importance increases, so does dependency - and this now bothers more than half of all users. This is the conclusion of the latest study by the BAT FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE QUESTIONS, for which a representative survey of over 2,000 German citizens aged 18 and over was conducted in April 2022.

55 per cent state that they are more dependent on social media (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) in their free time than they would like. The younger generation in particular is critical of their own behaviour. Older people, on the other hand, are less critical of their online behaviour.

In addition to age, gender and region also play a role. While young East German women, for example, express the highest dissatisfaction with their social media activities at almost 90 per cent, the figure for young West German women is „only“ 72 per cent.

According to Professor Dr Ulrich Reinhardt, Scientific Director of the Foundation for Future Studies, the reasons for involuntary addiction vary from person to person and range from fear of cyberbullying or missing out on something to lack of time and sleep to social pressure.

Professor Reinhardt: „Likes, comments and reactions to your own posts are like a reward. Many people are prepared to edit and embellish their own lives on social media for these rewards. This not only costs time and nerves, but often also leads to stress and dissatisfaction.“

Attention without distraction: 57 per cent want public areas without the internet

An undisturbed dinner in a restaurant or a shopping trip without phone calls? That's what more than half of the population would like. Many people long to have the full attention of others and not be constantly distracted.

This is already possible in other countries. If mobile phones are switched off and guests remain offline, you get a free drink in some bars in the USA, in some restaurants in England children under the age of twelve even eat for free and in Australia the entire bill is sometimes reduced by ten per cent.

Professor Reinhardt can also imagine the creation of such services in Germany. On the one hand, this creates a differentiation from other providers, while on the other, many people want more dialogue and more intensive conversations with family and friends - and not just because of the two-year pandemic.

„Anyone who chats, surfs, posts or calls in the presence of others is signalling that something else is more important than the conversation and contact with those present. And yet it is precisely attention that many people crave so much in personal dialogue,“ says Professor Reinhardt.