Social Media Use: Young People Particularly at Risk

Commissioned by the GKI economic research institute in the spring of 2026, an online survey involving 211 participants was conducted on the extent and effects of social media use in Hungary. Although the research cannot be considered representative of the entire Hungarian population, the results still clearly identify the most important domestic social trends related to social media usage.

The results clearly show that while users are aware of the harmful effects of excessive social media use, the majority are still unable to keep it within healthy limits (this is especially true for the young, 15–19 age group). On average, respondents spend nearly two hours a day on social media, while by their own estimation, only about half of this would still be healthy. Despite this, 63% of the survey respondents admittedly exceed this limit-by an average of 50 minutes a day. The situation is even more severe among young people: 15-19-year-olds spend an average of two and a half hours on social media, and extreme usage of up to eight hours a day is not uncommon.

According to the research, 87% of respondents have already tried to reduce their social media usage, indicating that the recognition of the problem is widespread. Despite this, the majority cannot make a lasting change. Although 94% of respondents could imagine alternative activities-such as meeting friends (68%), reading (62%), or playing sports (55%)-these options do not materialize in practice.

The survey results show that using social media involves a significant emotional burden. While positive feelings are still in a slight majority (56%) among all respondents during use, the proportion of negative emotions is already high at this point (44%). For young people, this ratio is even less favorable: negative feelings are already in the majority among them during use.

After use, the situation deteriorates further: two-thirds of the feelings experienced by all respondents are negative. The most common is fatigue (reported by one in two respondents), but many also reported feelings of emptiness (24%), being upset (23%), or a sense of missing out. Two-thirds of 15- to 19-year-olds feel explicitly tired after “social media time,” and in their case, three-quarters of the emerging feelings are negative.

Social media use has a serious impact on users not only emotionally but also in terms of lifestyle. For example, according to nearly three-quarters of respondents, it reduces their amount of sleep (among 15-19-year-olds, this proportion is even higher at 95%).

According to the research, one in six respondents has experienced harassment on social media. This proportion is significantly higher among women (20%) than men (11%). Harassment also appears to varying degrees depending on the platform: the highest rate is on TikTok (27%), while the lowest rate is on YouTube (15%). In reality, the proportion of those who have experienced harassment may be higher: 15-19-year-olds often no longer consider certain forms of harassment as such, even if they objectively qualify. At the same time, this carries a serious mental risk.

An overwhelming majority (93%) of respondents believe there is a need to introduce conscious and healthy social media usage into public education. Even in the youngest age group, 84% support this, clearly indicating that young people are not only affected but also demand help. Based on the research, high school-aged youth are particularly at risk: overuse, negative emotional impacts, and sleep deprivation appear simultaneously among them. From a prevention perspective, it would be important to begin education on conscious social media use as early as elementary school.

The significance of this area is further reinforced by the new government’s announcement of a shift in education policy direction. A key issue here is that social media usage should be given appropriate weight. This is because it is not merely an individual habit but a societal-level issue: it affects mental and physical health, quality of life, and relationships. The research results clearly show that education on conscious social media use cannot be delayed and is of decisive importance for the long-term health of society, the GKI report concludes.