Swedes feel unwell due to social media

Many Swedes feel unwell due to using social media, according to a new report. Yet, the platforms are used by almost everyone. There is a connection to how much time one spends on social media and well-being, says Måns Jonasson at the Internet Foundation.

» Updated: October 01 2024

» Published: September 30 2024

Swedes feel unwell due to social media
Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT

Nearly 100 percent of Swedes of all ages use social media, according to the report Swedes and the internet from the Internet Foundation. The younger the group, the more time spent on the platforms.

However, very many would rather do something else with their time. 40 percent say they often feel that they waste too much time on social media. Even here, the figure increases among younger groups. For women born in the 1980s or later, the figure is over 60 percent.

If so many people feel bad, why don't we just stop scrolling?

We have the world's best behavioral scientists who are polishing the algorithms at these companies, says Måns Jonasson and continues:

The playing field is extremely uneven. At the same time, we see seeds of self-insight. Among the youngest, fewer use Tiktok, for example.

Worst for young women

The report shows, just like other research and studies have shown in recent years, that it is young women who are affected the most by prolonged time on social media. Young women feel less attractive and think their lives are less happy when they compare themselves to others on social media.

Jonasson points out that the result is serious, even though it is known since before.

Another thing that stands out as alarming is that one-quarter of all young men have been subjected to harassment or hate speech. More studies are needed to find the details, but a guess is that it often involves gaming environments.

Conspiracy theory

Another part that stands out among Swedes' attitudes towards the internet and its possibilities is their stance on surveillance. 70 percent are indeed positive towards camera surveillance with facial recognition in public places, for crime-fighting purposes. At the same time, 63 percent say they believe their phones are eavesdropping on them.

This is a very Swedish attitude. We are more uncomfortable with Google or Meta taking part in our data and conversations than the state doing it, says Jonasson.

The phone listening to you is, however, the biggest conspiracy theory out there that people actually believe in.

But isn't there a little truth to it?

There is no grain of truth to it. It is possible to monitor data sent to different servers, and nothing is visible there. The big companies already know so much about us, plus people forget what they've searched for or what target group they belong to.

The report Swedes and the internet is conducted by the Internet Foundation, which is an independent business-driven foundation. The survey has been conducted since 2000, since 2010 under the Internet Foundation's auspices, and is based on the Novus Sweden Panel.

This year's report shows, among other things, that...

... 33 percent of high school students have social media accounts that their parents are not aware of (23 percent of middle school students).

... 40 percent often feel that they waste too much time on social media. For women born in the 1980s or later, the figure is over 60 percent.

... 44 percent of women born in the 90s and 43 percent of those born in the 00s feel less attractive due to comparisons on social media.

... between every fifth and every fourth woman born between 1980-2000 feels unsuccessful with their life when they compare with others on social media.

... 62 percent use only free media on the internet.

... 70 percent think camera surveillance with facial recognition in public places should be allowed to facilitate crime-fighting. Younger generations and those who vote left are more skeptical.

... 63 percent believe their mobile is eavesdropping on them.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Fasting Three Days a Week
3 MIN READ

Fasting Three Days a Week Yields Greater Weight Loss Than Calorie Cutting

Medicine Turns Human Blood Toxic
2 MIN READ

Medicine Turns Human Blood Toxic to Mosquitoes, Offering Malaria Hope

Explosion Damages Malmö Apartment Gate;
1 MIN READ

Explosion Damages Malmö Apartment Gate; Investigation Underway

Two Seriously Injured in Ydre
1 MIN READ

Two Seriously Injured in Ydre Car Crash; Police Investigate Negligence

Suspicious Object in Malmö Deemed
1 MIN READ

Suspicious Object in Malmö Deemed Harmless by Police

Lena Nyberg Takes Helm of
1 MIN READ

Lena Nyberg Takes Helm of Sami Truth Commission

Tony's Chocolonely Recalls Chocolate Over
1 MIN READ

Tony's Chocolonely Recalls Chocolate Over Stone Contamination Risk

Sweden Expands Conscription Eligibility with
1 MIN READ

Sweden Expands Conscription Eligibility with Streamlined Process

Suspect Detained in Uddevalla Mosque
1 MIN READ

Suspect Detained in Uddevalla Mosque Fire Investigation

Critics Urge Sweden to Scrap
2 MIN READ

Critics Urge Sweden to Scrap Proposal on Lifestyle-Based Permit Revocation

Swedes Enjoy Longer Lives but
2 MIN READ

Swedes Enjoy Longer Lives but Face Growing Health Inequality

Stockholm Region's Journalist Register Sparks
2 MIN READ

Stockholm Region's Journalist Register Sparks Privacy Concerns

Woman Hospitalized After Attempted Murder
1 MIN READ

Woman Hospitalized After Attempted Murder in Örsundsbro, Suspect Arrested

Journalist Joakim Medin Declares from
2 MIN READ

Journalist Joakim Medin Declares from Turkish Prison: Journalism Is Not a Crime

Fredrick Federley Eyes Return to
1 MIN READ

Fredrick Federley Eyes Return to Center Party Politics in Sweden

Kristersson: Swedish Efforts Intensify for
1 MIN READ

Kristersson: Swedish Efforts Intensify for Journalist's Release in Turkey

Nina Larsson Steps In as
2 MIN READ

Nina Larsson Steps In as Sweden's New Gender Equality Minister

75-Year-Old Woman Arrested in Ale
1 MIN READ

75-Year-Old Woman Arrested in Ale for Suspected Murder of Elderly Man

New Blood Marker Tracks Alzheimer's
2 MIN READ

New Blood Marker Tracks Alzheimer's Progression, Aiding Drug Approval

Stefan Löfven Leaves Facebook Citing
1 MIN READ

Stefan Löfven Leaves Facebook Citing Concerns Over Democracy

Sweden to Announce New Minister
1 MIN READ

Sweden to Announce New Minister for Gender Equality and Labor Market

Region Skåne to Pay 80
1 MIN READ

Region Skåne to Pay 80 Million Kronor in Ambulance Dispute Settlement

Greta Thunberg Removed by Police
1 MIN READ

Greta Thunberg Removed by Police During Stockholm Climate Protest

Man in His 50s Killed
1 MIN READ

Man in His 50s Killed by Falling Beam in Mölndal Workplace Accident

Swedish Teen Sentenced to 8
1 MIN READ

Swedish Teen Sentenced to 8 Years in Denmark for Attempted Murder

Sweden Considers Deportation for Misbehavior
3 MIN READ

Sweden Considers Deportation for Misbehavior Under New Proposal

Man Arrested in Norrköping Murder
1 MIN READ

Man Arrested in Norrköping Murder Investigation

Death in Fjärås Ruled Non-Criminal
1 MIN READ

Death in Fjärås Ruled Non-Criminal After Investigation

Swedish Armed Forces Ordered to
1 MIN READ

Swedish Armed Forces Ordered to Pay for PFAS Cleanup in Uppsala

Swedish Man Charged in Copenhagen
1 MIN READ

Swedish Man Charged in Copenhagen Murder Disguised as Courier

Gender Gap in Sick Leave:
3 MIN READ

Gender Gap in Sick Leave: Women Face Double Workload Challenges

Sweden's April Fools' Day: Elk
2 MIN READ

Sweden's April Fools' Day: Elk Cavalry and Studio Swap Pranks

Sweden Ends Spruce Bark Beetle
2 MIN READ

Sweden Ends Spruce Bark Beetle Control as Threat Diminishes

Drought Shifts Earth's Axis and
3 MIN READ

Drought Shifts Earth's Axis and Raises Sea Levels, Study Finds

Örebro Doctor Sentenced to 7
1 MIN READ

Örebro Doctor Sentenced to 7 Years for Sexual Assaults on Patients

Swedish Journalist's Detention in Turkey
1 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist's Detention in Turkey Raises Legal Concerns

Woman Hospitalized After Villa Fire
1 MIN READ

Woman Hospitalized After Villa Fire Near Älvsbyn

Sölvesborg Man in Custody for
1 MIN READ

Sölvesborg Man in Custody for Alleged Online Child Sex Crimes

Report Highlights High Rates of
1 MIN READ

Report Highlights High Rates of Relationship Violence Among Young Girls

Hedgehogs Reveal High Lead and
1 MIN READ

Hedgehogs Reveal High Lead and Pollutant Levels in Swedish Study