CHANGES IN SOCIAL MEDIA USE PATTERNS AMONG CZECH ADOLESCENTS: HBSC STUDY 2018–2022

Objectives: Previous studies have identified four distinct patterns of adolescent social media use (SMU): (1) Non-active users abstain from social media or engage in online interactions only once a week or less; (2) Active users connect with others online daily without any functional impairments related to their SMU; (3) Intense users frequently engage with others online but do not meet criteria for problematic use; (4) Problematic users report six or more addiction-like symptoms. The following study aimed to assess the prevalence of these SMU patterns among Czech adolescents; examine changes between 2018 (pre-COVID-19) and 2022; and explore age and gender differences to identify at-risk subgroups. Methods: Data were drawn from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study among 11-, 13-, and 15-year-olds. The study analysed Czech data from the 2017/18 and 2021/22 waves (n = 26,450). Results: Findings revealed marked changes in SMU patterns between 2018 and 2022 among Czech adolescents. Girls and older adolescents reported higher rates of problematic SMU, which increased steadily with age. The share of non-active users declined, most notably among 11-year-olds. Conclusions: The marked increase in both intense and problematic SMU among Czech adolescents highlights a growing public health concern. Given the established associations between problematic SMU and poorer mental health outcomes, these findings call for the integration of digital behaviour monitoring and education into school-based mental health and prevention programs. Particular attention should be given to early adolescence and to gender-specific vulnerabilities.