Intensive or problematic social media usage can cause problems in childrens' sleep patterns, according to fresh research. Those at risk sleep less than their peers, and they go to sleep later at night.
The findings came to light in an international study for the World Health Organisation in which Jyväskylä University participated.
Extensive use of social media can seem normal, said researcher Henri Lahti, but if it becomes compulsive there is cause for concern.
The study suggests that worldwide some six percent of social media users have a problem, and about 30 percent of school pupils are intensive users of social media.
Government formation talks underway at the House of the Estates have touched on allowing teachers to ban mobile phones during the school day, which is currently not possible in Finland.
A citizens' initiative to change the law to allow such a ban launched in March has nearly 30,000 signatures.
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