High social media use linked to 'small' increase in depressive symptoms in teens

Young people who spend at least two hours a day on social media are more likely to experience depressive symptoms and poorer wellbeing, according to a new decade-long study. The research, conducted by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI), followed nearly 1,200 Melbourne school students aged nine to 19.

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As a result, we still know relatively little about whether some age periods may represent windows of greater sensitivity to the potential harms of social media.

Data collected between 2015 and 2021 involved students self-reporting their social media usage and feelings of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and overall wellbeing. While the study identified a link, experts have urged caution against viewing social media as a definitive cause of poor mental health in youth. The report's author, Nandi Vijayakumar, highlighted the need for more research into how social media affects different age groups, noting that some periods might be more sensitive to potential harms.

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This is the period when young people first start using social media typically and learning how to navigate online interactions.

The study found that heavier social media use between ages 12 and 18 was associated with a small increased risk of depressive symptoms a year later. These effects were strongest in early adolescence, especially among girls aged 12-13. Vijayakumar explained this is often when young people begin using social media and navigating online interactions, coinciding with rapid brain development and crucial social changes. During this time, adolescents become more sensitive to peer approval and social feedback, while their emotion regulation capabilities are still maturing.

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The authors themselves repeatedly describe the associations as small and are careful not to make strong causal claims.

Daniel Angus, a professor at the Queensland University of Technology, pointed out several limitations, including the study's reliance on self-reported data, which can be inaccurate and influenced by social stigma. He emphasized that "time spent" on social media reveals little about the actual activities adolescents engage in online. The report did not differentiate between active and passive social media use, a factor that could significantly influence mental health outcomes.

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Self-reports of digital media use are particularly problematic because they are often inaccurate and shaped by social norms.