Changes in social media use patterns among Czech adolescents: HBSC study 2018-2022

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 programmes. Particular attention should be given to early adolescence and to gender-specific vulnerabilities.