Girls Twice as Likely as Boys to Report Social Media Issues, New Survey Reveals

A major national survey of schoolchildren in Wales has found that girls are significantly more likely than boys to experience problems related to social media use, with the highest rates seen among those in secondary school.

The study, conducted by Public Health Wales (PHW) in collaboration with Cardiff University, surveyed over 130,000 young people aged 11 to 16 across the country.

According to BBC Reports, among the most striking findings was that twice as many girls as boys reported issues such as difficulty limiting screen time, conflicts with friends or family, and a general overreliance on social media.

In particular, 21% of girls in Year 10 (ages 14–15) and 20.5% in Year 9 (ages 13–14) said they had experienced problematic social media use, compared to just 10.1% and 9.8% of boys in the same age groups. Overall, 17.1% of girls and 9.7% of boys across Wales reported similar concerns.

Though the reasons behind the gender disparity remain complex, experts suggest it may be linked to social comparison pressures and patterns of digital behaviour. Emily van de Venter, a consultant in health improvement at PHW, said, “There are benefits to social media, but a concerning number of young people are reporting negative effects. We do see slightly higher rates of girls reporting they’ve been bullied either in person or through cyberbullying, and we see slightly higher levels of girls using electronic devices late at night,” explained further

She added that these issues may be contributing to rising levels of depression and anxiety among teenagers. While it’s not possible to pinpoint a single cause, Ms van de Venter suggested that turning off notifications, avoiding screens before bed, and keeping devices out of bedrooms could help mitigate negative impacts.

Young people themselves reflected a wide range of experiences with social media. Lois, 13, said she tries to balance her phone use with other activities such as sports and clubs. “I’ll go on my phone if I’ve got nothing else to do,” she explained. “Sometimes after school, it’s nice to be able to sit down and look at what everyone else is doing in the world… but it’s kind of shocking how fast time goes,” she added.

Beth, 14, said that although she enjoys using social media to keep in touch with friends, she appreciates not being allowed to have phones in school. “You can socialise with friends more and it doesn’t distract you in classes,” she said, adding that she sometimes leaves her phone upstairs at home to stay focused on other activities.

The biannual survey asked students in Years 7 to 11 questions about different aspects of their lives, including mental health, relationships, and school experiences. The 2023 edition, the largest of its kind in Wales, has reignited conversations about how best to support young people navigating the digital world.

By Kimani Mwangi