Irish teens more concerned about their social media use than most of their peers across Europe 

The ESPAD 2024 report shows that 55% of Irish teens surveyed are concerned about their use of social media. Stock picture

Irish 15- and 16-year-olds report the fourth highest level of concern about their social media use out of peers in 37 European countries.

And more mid-teens in Ireland are gaming online compared to their equivalents in other European countries — with Irish girls, in particular, spending much more time gaming than the average girl in Europe.

Research also shows a significantly higher prevalence of gambling among Irish 15- and 16-year-old girls than their peers across Europe.

ESPAD, the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs, has conducted surveys on substance use and other forms of risky behaviour among 15- to 16-year-old school students every four years since 1995.

The ESPAD 2024 report shows reductions in substance use among Irish teenagers over the last 30 years, particularly lifetime and daily use of cigarettes, with decreases also in cannabis use generally.

It shows Ireland (in this age group) has one of the lowest rates for daily cigarette use, although Ireland is above average for daily e-cigarette use.

In relation to risky behaviour linked to technology and gambling, the report shows:

• Across Europe, 30% of 15- to 16-year-olds have not been gaming on school days in the last 30 days, compared to 23% in Ireland;
• 20% of European mid-teens are spending two to three hours gaming on a typical school day, compared to 24% of Irish teens;
• The rates are more stark among girls, with 40% of European teen girls not gaming, compared to 29% of Irish girls;
• 22% of Irish girls are gaming two to three hours (European girl average 13%), 8.7% spend four to five hours (7.1%), and 5.6% are spending over six hours (4.9%);
• 55% of Irish mid-teens report “self-perceived problems” related to social media use, the joint-fourth highest in 37 states (European average 47%);
• Irish boys are joint-third highest (52%v42%) for perceived problems, with girls joint ninth highest (58%v53%);
• Irish mid-teens have the fourth highest prevalence of gambling in the last year (29%v23%) — and while Irish boys are marginally higher, Irish girls are significantly higher than their European peers (27%v16%).