Many New Zealand teens report addictive social media habits, as a new Public Health Communication Centre Briefing adds fuel to talks on a minimum age of 16.

The University of Auckland-led briefing reports on a survey of 540 teenagers aged 13 to 17.

It found that 22% meet criteria for problematic social media use and more than a third sit in a risky category.

Problematic use is linked to loss of control, daily life being disrupted and real difficulty logging off.

International evidence connects this kind of use with poorer sleep, loneliness, depression, anxiety, stress and reduced attention.

Social media use is almost universal among teens, with most starting between 10 and 13.

Nearly half said social media disrupts homework, daily routines, family time and sleep.

Briefing lead author Dr Samantha Marsh says many young people now question how early they began.

“Half of the teens say they started on social media too young and almost four in ten wished social media had never been invented.”

As the government considers a minimum access age of 16, support among teens reached 47%, with only a quarter opposed.

Support was even stronger among caregivers at 77%, who saw an age limit as the most helpful tool for managing online behaviour.

Teens said they would need school-based education, clear advice for parents and safe, supervised online platforms for younger users, which will matter for families on the Hibiscus Coast too.

Know something local worth sharing?

Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.