Most Young Adults in Finland Say Smartphones Are Harming Wellbeing, Survey Finds

A majority of young adults in Finland believe excessive smartphone use is damaging the wellbeing of people in their age group, according to a new survey.

The study found that most respondents feel they overuse smart devices, and many have already tried to cut back.

Nearly 80 percent of young adults identified social media use as a major factor behind growing mental distress among their peers.

Concerns about focus and attention were also prominent. Just over half of respondents, 52 percent, said their ability to concentrate has been negatively affected by smart device use.

The survey was commissioned by pension insurance company Elo and the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS), and carried out by E2 Research along with experts from the funding organisations.

Around 1,000 Finns aged between 18 and 30 participated in the study. It examined how smart devices and social media are affecting wellbeing and working life, as well as the steps young people are taking to reduce the negative impacts of excessive device use.