Survey Finds 7 Percent of Japan's Teens Too Hooked on Social Media

(MENAFN) Nearly one in fifteen Japanese adolescents aged 10 to 19 are suspected pathological social media users — too deeply hooked to cut back on their own — according to findings published Saturday by a news agency.

The nationwide survey, conducted by the National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center, identified the 10–19 age bracket as the most severely affected demographic across all groups studied.

Emerging research has begun drawing connections between excessive social media consumption and rising rates of criminal behaviour and mental health deterioration among minors — findings that have added urgency to policy debates already underway at Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the Children and Families Agency.

The poll, carried out between January and February 2025, sampled 9,000 randomly selected individuals aged 10 to 79 across 400 locations nationwide, drawing valid responses from 4,650 participants.

Among those flagged as problematic users, the data paints a stark picture: 30% reported spending "six hours or more" online on weekdays, with that figure surging to 62% on weekends.

Japan is not alone in grappling with the crisis. Australia and Indonesia have already enacted outright bans prohibiting those under 16 from accessing social media platforms, citing the need to shield minors from digital harm.

In response, the National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center is urging parents to lead by example. The centre advises families to establish clear smartphone ground rules before handing devices to children — specifying permitted usage hours, designated locations, and defined consequences for violations.

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