Result
Social media has become an integral part of the lives of many German citizens.
More than two thirds of Germans currently use Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and the like at least once a week in their free time. In a 10-year comparison, the proportion has doubled (2013: 34%).
As expected, younger users (under 30 years: 81%) are almost twice as likely to be on social media platforms as older citizens (over 65 years: 43%).
However, despite this intensive use, only one in three people currently enjoy posting, commenting and liking and only one in four would like to spend more time on the platforms.
Reasons
Every day, people use their smartphones for around 3.5 hours - with almost 1.5 hours alone being spent using social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and the like. These are extremely appealing to the younger generation in particular, as they offer almost countless opportunities to find out about every conceivable topic, stay in constant dialogue with friends or strangers, follow the lives of stars and influencers (live) or pass the time with constantly uploaded content. Currently, short videos such as "TikToks", "Reels" or "Shorts" are particularly popular content that is often consumed by younger people.
Despite all these possibilities and offers, the vast majority of people still have little fun using them. One reason for this lack of enjoyment lies in the countless information and impressions. The constant scrolling through posts often creates feelings of being overwhelmed and social pressure, which in turn can lead to stress, dissatisfaction, feelings of inferiority or discomfort. Another factor is the lack of authentic dialogue. Although social media platforms offer the opportunity to get in touch with others, these interactions often remain superficial. Many people therefore do not feel able to express their true feelings and thoughts on social media, often fearing that they will be met with a lack of understanding or that they will be criticised for uploaded content, sometimes in a less than friendly manner.
Forecast
On the one hand, there is a lot to be said in favour of the continued frequent use of social media offerings. In addition to the reasons already mentioned, a stronger integration of virtual reality and augmented reality is also likely, which will provide a more immersive experience. In addition to the existing platforms, numerous new platforms will emerge in the future that focus on meaningful content exchange between users and not just on maximising the number of followers and likes.
At the same time, however, social media will reach its peak at some point. The low level of satisfaction, the increasing desire for digital detoxing, the fact that many people feel (too) dependent on Twitter, Instagram and the like, the growing concern about bullying, fake news and calls for violence and the ever-increasing desire for leisure activities outside the home, for meeting friends in the real world and for more spontaneity and authenticity already show that many people would actually prefer to spend their free time in other ways than online with social media.
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