Friday, May 30, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

Excessive internet use on the rise among Finnish girls

Published 22 September 2024
– By Editorial Staff
Excessive internet use has also been linked to mental health problems.

According to the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare (THL), excessive internet use among Finnish youth has increased between 2017 and 2023. The increase seems to be particularly noticeable among girls.

By “excessive internet use”, THL means use that “takes up a lot of time, is difficult to limit and causes problems for the user”. This can include social media, gaming or watching different types of movies. The Health at School (Hälsa i Skolan) survey was used to measure use.

Excessive internet use has increased among all Finnish adolescents, but it has increased significantly more among girls than boys. For example, the prevalence has more than doubled among girls in upper secondary school and almost doubled among girls in the upper grades of comprehensive school.

– It is difficult to say with certainty why girls’ excessive use of the Internet has increased so much. One possible reason is that girls use social media more, says Olli Kiviruusu, head of research at the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare TH, in a press release. Similarly, boys are more likely to play online and there may not have been as significant an increase.

“Negative impact on concentration”

The study found a link between excessive Internet use and mental health problems. It also showed that there is an increased risk of sleep disorders and reduced physical activity, as time spent in front of the screen takes time away from these and other important activities. There have also been links between excessive Internet use and difficulties in school, as well as links to difficulties with learning, memory and concentration.

– For example, Internet use can lead to less sleep, and when you are tired, learning and the concentration and attention it requires are affected. On the other hand, those with learning difficulties may become frustrated with their studies and find online environments that allow them to experience success and rewarding activities, says Kiviruusu:

– However, the findings are consistent with the general concern that excessive Internet use can have a negative impact on concentration, attention, and therefore learning.

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Worrying trend: More people driving under the influence of drugs

Published today 7:23
– By Editorial Staff
Genre image - traffic accident. There is no information that drugs are related to this particular incident.

In Sweden, it is now more common for drivers to be under the influence of drugs than alcohol, while in Finland it is still more common to drive drunk than under the influence of drugs.

Between 2018 and 2022, 81 people died in Finland in traffic accidents where the driver who caused the accident was under the influence of at least one drug. This corresponds to 11 percent of all fatal traffic accidents during the period when drug testing was possible.

– Alcohol is still the most common intoxicant in fatal traffic accidents, but drugs are becoming increasingly common. This is particularly true of amphetamines, which are often linked to high speeds and risky decisions. Cannabis is also common among those who drive while intoxicated, says Kalle Parkkari, Director of Traffic Safety at the Finnish Accident Investigation Board, to Swedish Yle.

Statistics show that drivers under the influence of drugs are more likely to collide with other vehicles, while drivers under the influence of alcohol tend to drive off the road or crash in off-road terrain. However, Parkkari points out that the number of cases is so limited that it is difficult to draw firm conclusions.

– There is nevertheless a slight trend indicating an increase in drug-related driving under the influence. Traffic is part of society, and drug use in society appears to be on the rise. It is therefore inevitable that drugs will also begin to appear more frequently in traffic, Parkkari notes.

Sweden stands out in the statistics

In Sweden, the trend is more alarming. Between 2012 and 2022, 23 percent of drivers who died in traffic accidents were under the influence of drugs, compared to 11 percent who had alcohol in their system. Drug-related drunk driving has thus overtaken alcohol as the most common cause.

Lars-Olov Sjöström, traffic safety manager at the Swedish Motorists’ Sobriety Association, points to a change in attitude among young people as a possible explanation.

– For a hundred years, we have taught people not to drive with alcohol in their system, but the surveys we have conducted in collaboration with authorities in Norway show that the same young people who refrain from driving when under the influence of alcohol do not think as carefully when it comes to cannabis. We are lagging behind in providing information about cannabis and other drugs.

“We can learn from each other”

He believes that a more liberal and permissive view of “recreational drugs” among young people makes the work more difficult, but still sees hope for change within five to ten years. Both Parkkari and Sjöström emphasize the importance of cross-border cooperation to manage the development.

– It would be enormously helpful if we could learn from other countries’ experiences in this area. While the situation in Finland is still under control, it is very important to ensure that it does not get worse, says Parkkari.

Sjöström agrees, adding:

– We are seeing the same pattern in Finland as we have seen in Sweden, so we can learn from each other and discuss methods for dealing with the problem.

Finns are the world’s most active TikTok users

Published 23 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff

Screen time on Tiktok is significantly higher in Finland than in the rest of the world, a new survey shows. In Sweden, Youtube is most popular.

In Finland, around 1.5 million people use Tiktok. It is the app that Finns use the most, with YouTube coming in second.

On average, Finns spend 54 hours and 37 minutes a month on Tiktok, according to a report by consulting firm Kepios. This is almost 20 hours more than the survey average of around 35 hours per month.

In Sweden, the most time is spent on YouTube, with Swedes spending an average of 28 hours and 46 minutes each month. Close behind in second place is Tiktok, which people spend almost as much time with: 28 hours and four minutes on average each month.

Finns are also the ones who open the Tiktok app the most times per month compared to the rest of the world. On average, they open the app 587.7 times a month, almost 20 times a day, while the global average is 358.7 times.

The report is based on data from Android phones in November last year and adult users only. The total number of users is therefore likely to be much higher, as many people under the age of 18 use Tiktok and also YouTube.

Faith in God increases among Finnish 15-year-olds

Published 16 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Between 2023 and 2024, the share of girls who believe in God increased by 13%.

Significantly more 15-year-olds in Finland say they have a personal belief in God than before. In just five years, the proportion of young people who believe has increased significantly – and the desire to belong to the church has also strengthened, according to a new comprehensive study involving over 100,000 participants.

The study, which was published in the Finnish journal Uskonto, katsomus ja kasvatus, analyzed changes in young people’s religious beliefs over time, with a particular focus on gender differences. The study was conducted by researchers at Diakonia University of Applied Sciences and the University of Eastern Finland. It is based on survey data collected from over 100,000 young people who participated in confirmation classes between 2019 and 2024. In Finland, young people usually attend confirmation classes in the year they turn 15, and according to the study, nearly three-quarters of all 15-year-olds participate in the classes. Among those belonging to the Evangelical Lutheran Church, participation is over 90 percent.

The surveys included questions about young people’s religious beliefs – such as belief in God, the resurrection of Jesus, prayer habits, and willingness to belong to the church – as well as how they themselves felt that their faith and relationship with the church had been affected by the instruction.

Belief in God is increasing

The results show that girls’ belief in God remained stable at around 35 to 37 percent between 2019 and 2023, but increased to as much as 50 percent in 2024, an increase of 13 percentage points in one year. At the same time, belief in the resurrection of Jesus increased from around 34 percent to 45 percent during the same period.

For boys, belief in God increased from 36 percent in 2019 to 62 percent in 2024. A similar increase was seen in boys’ belief in the resurrection of Jesus, which rose from 39 percent in 2019 to 60 percent in 2024.

Existential questions were relevant in 325 and still are in 2025, said Juha Pihkala, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Tampere, commenting on the study to Finnish state broadcaster Yle.

Other surveys have also shown that more young Finnish adults are turning to the church.

More people want to belong to the church

The proportion of young people who want to belong to the church has also increased. Among boys, the figure rose from 52 percent in 2019 to 66 percent in 2024. For girls, the corresponding figure rose from 63 to 67 percent.

At the same time, the proportion of boys who said they were encouraged to pray during lessons rose from 43 to 59 percent. Among girls, the corresponding figure rose from 43 to 53 percent. The proportion of boys who felt that their faith had been strengthened through confirmation classes increased from 42 to 65 percent, while the proportion of girls rose from 42 to 55 percent.

Finland’s President: “Militarize Ukraine to its teeth”

The war in Ukraine

Published 22 March 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Alexander Stubb and NATO chief Mark Rutte.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb has called on Ukraine’s Western backers to provide the country with even more arms and financial aid, claiming this will deter Russia.

The statement was made shortly after a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyj in Helsinki. Meanwhile, negotiations are underway within the EU to double its arms budget.

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, had earlier presented a plan to increase EU funding for Ukraine from €20 billion in 2024 to €40 billion this year. However, in a comment to the Italian newspaper La Stampa, she admitted that she had faced opposition from Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. According to the newspaper, an upper limit of €5 billion has been set for the donations instead.

Speaking to the politically-oriented Politico newspaper on Wednesday, Stubb argued that “deterrence – which is based on militarizing Ukraine to its teeth” would be the most effective way to end the war.

The Finnish president regretted that Kallas had failed to rally support for his plan and hoped that EU leaders could save the aid package.

– It’s very important now to get a message from Europe that the military, political and economic support continues, he said. He also stressed that sanctions against Russia must be tightened and that the country’s frozen assets should be seized to increase pressure on the country.

A ceasefire is being negotiated

Stubb also stressed that he supports Ukraine’s possible membership of both the EU and the NATO military pact. However, the Trump administration has ruled out the latter.

Moscow has consistently denounced NATO’s eastward expansion and considers the alliance a threat to Russia’s national security. President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials have repeatedly claimed that the ambition to include Ukraine in NATO was one of the main drivers behind the 2022 war.

Stubb’s remarks come amid negotiations on a 30-day ceasefire, proposed by US President Donald Trump, aimed at stopping long-range attacks on energy infrastructure from both sides. A new round of talks between Russian and US delegations is scheduled for March 24 in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah.

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