More than half of teenagers spend four hours on social media on days without classes

Especially on days without classes, and even before confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the mobile phone is increasingly used by young people, who spend an average of four hours on social networks. This is the portrait that results from the Study on the Consumption of alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs and other Addictive Behaviors and Dependencies 2019, which covered more than 26 thousand students aged between 13 and 18 years.

The summary report was released today by the Service of Intervention in Addictive Behaviors and Dependencies (SICAD), resulting from a survey carried out in 734 public schools, with students from 1,550 classes participating anonymously, and even in the classroom.

According to the data, the use of social networks is massive. 96% accessed social networks in the previous week, and the vast majority (72%) played electronic games in the previous month. It is noted that a major share, 13% had played for real money in the last 12 months.

In terms of regularity, the study shows that 55% accessed social networks for four or more hours on a day without school, but that the percentage dropped on school days, standing at 32%.

In electronic games the number of people who spend four or more hours a day playing lower, with 29% admitting that they did it the previous month, on school days and 11% reporting that they play during that time on school days

Regarding cash games, it is said that teenagers place sports bets and play the lottery, especially, but they also play cards or dice and slot machines.

The analysis also focuses on the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, drugs and medicines, paralleling the data that had been recorded in 2015.

Editor's Note: The news has been updated with more information and graphics.