Young people's social lives are increasingly taking place in hybrid environments. Face-to-face interactions are supplemented by interactions on digital social networks. It is often assumed that digital networks are displacing analog ones, making adolescents lonelier and causing them to lose social and communication skills. In addition to problematic forms of use, the focus is on content that is harmful to young people. Empirical studies can reveal which trends are becoming established in young people's everyday lives and what risks and opportunities are associated with them. The focus is on the relationship between well-being, stress, and the use of digital media.
Since 2010, the ZHAW Media Psychology Group has been conducting the JAMES study, a representative study on the media use of 12- to 19-year-olds, every two years. More than 1,000 young people throughout Switzerland are surveyed. The studies show how the media behavior of young people in Switzerland is developing in connection with rapid technological developments. The 2024 study, for example, revealed the increasing use of artificial intelligence by young people.
Key findings from the various surveys will be discussed, such as the role of influencers among young people in various areas of coping with developmental tasks, the use of smartphones and social media, and the impact of media on young people's mental health. The study examines media use in the context of young people's overall life realities.
Conclusions for practical application are drawn from the study findings, whether for media education in schools and families, the protection of young people by media and platform companies, or regulation by the state. The study series aims to contribute to all relevant socialization authorities taking their share of responsibility for ensuring that a digital society suitable for children and young people can emerge.