FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The use of smartphones, social networks and video games is becoming one of the biggest challenges for the mental health of young people. According to specialists, these forms of compulsive use are no longer simply a habit of the younger generation, but can create addictive mechanisms similar to those of narcotic substances, affecting the way the brain functions.
The alarm was raised by Professor Gabriele Sani, director of the Clinical and Emergency Psychiatry Unit at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome. He explains that the concept of addiction has changed significantly in recent years. In addition to traditional drugs, technology-related addictions are increasingly appearing, which affect the brain centers associated with pleasure and reward.
According to him, uncontrolled use of phones, social networks, the Internet and video games can harm the psychological development of adolescents, increase isolation, weaken social relationships and negatively affect school performance. In many cases, young people gradually disconnect from real life and spend more and more time in the virtual world.
One of the biggest concerns is that this form of addiction develops silently. Unlike drug use, it happens inside the home, via a phone or computer, so parents often don't realize that their children are facing a serious problem. Isolation, lack of communication, or spending hours in front of a screen are often interpreted as normal teenage behavior.
Professor Sani emphasizes that, when the problem becomes apparent, families often try to limit only the use of the phone or the Internet, while the real cause remains untreated. According to him, an anxiety disorder, depression or another psychological problem may be hidden behind the addiction, so treatment should include not only the young person, but also the family and the environment in which he lives.
International studies also show that the phenomenon is becoming increasingly widespread. An analysis published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology shows that about 27% of the population shows signs of smartphone addiction, 17% from social networks, 14% from the Internet and 6% from video games. The most exposed group remains adolescents.
Another study, published in the Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, estimates that one in four adolescents worldwide has problematic social media use, while data from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) shows that 49.2% of adolescents exhibit high levels of smartphone addiction. Furthermore, almost one in four young people begin to show strong signs of addiction before the age of 15.
Video games also remain a concern. According to studies, about 41% of young people present a use that is considered high risk for developing addiction, affecting social life, school performance and psychological well-being.
Experts are also closely following the growth of Artificial Intelligence. The report European Children's Use and Understanding of Generative AI, compiled by the EU Kids Online network, shows that 72% of European young people aged 13 to 17 regularly use generative Artificial Intelligence tools, while only 28% declare that they do not use them.
Meanwhile, the annual Italian report on addictions highlights that the phenomenon is also associated with the increase in the use of narcotic substances. During 2025, around 350 thousand students under 18 declared that they had used at least one illegal substance, an increase of 20% compared to the previous year. Also, around 15 thousand children aged 11–13 show behaviors related to addiction to social networks, while over 111 thousand students are considered at risk for video game addiction disorder.
Professor Sani emphasizes that technology should not be demonized, as it has become an inseparable part of everyday life. However, he emphasizes that its use must be accompanied by education, clear boundaries and support from family, school and mental health specialists. Only in this way, according to him, can digital addiction be prevented from becoming an even bigger problem for the younger generations.
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