For years, research on social media and youth mental health has tried to answer a perplexing question: Does use lead to worsened well-being or do young people who are struggling disproportionately spend their time on social media?
Some studies have indicated that both scenarios are true while other research shows mixed results. This uncertainty has led to a fierce debate over how to regulate social media platforms and technology use in school.
Critics of sweeping declarations that social media is harmful say there's not enough evidence to support the claim, and that its proponents are engaging in a moral panic about technology. Advocates of reduced screen time and social media use say the research offers clear explanations for how social media negatively affects youth well-being, including through decreased sleep. A recent "consensus statement" from dozens of experts evaluated a number of such claims.
Meanwhile, many teens say they are online "almost constantly," and 1 in 5 report that social media platforms "hurt" their mental health, according to recent Pew Research Center polling.
A new, well-designed study published this week in JAMA Network Open may help clarify what's happening. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco used data from a major federal study that follows thousands of children over a period of several years. Among the information collected from the children's parents is how much time they spend on tech devices and social media.
The researchers analyzed what happened when 11,876 tween and teen participants used social media over three years. They found that young people who had higher social media use than their individual mean reported greater depressive symptoms in subsequent years. In contrast, depression did not predict higher levels of future social media use.
Mashable asked the study's lead author, UCSF researcher and pediatrician Dr. Jason Nagata, to explain the findings, and what parents should consider when managing screen time and social media use in their own household.
Mashable: How does this research help us better understand the relationship between social media and youth mental health?
Dr. Nagata: There has been ongoing debate about whether social media contributes to depression or simply reflects underlying depressive symptoms. This national study is among the first to show that higher social media use predicts later depression — but not the reverse — suggesting directionality in this relationship.
Mashable: Why has it been so challenging to grasp whether social media negatively impacts youth mental health or vice versa?
Dr. Nagata: Most of the research on social media and mental health is cross-sectional and observational, so causality cannot be proven. More longitudinal studies like this are needed to determine the direction of these relationships.
Our study was also among the first to examine within-person effects, meaning we could track changes in social media use and mental health symptoms over time in each individual, rather than large samples as a whole.
Mashable: There's a major debate over whether the research on social media and mental health really warrants actions like implementing school phone bans. How might parents use your research findings to better inform their own approach to managing social media use at home?
Dr. Nagata: It's important for parents to encourage healthy and mindful screen use habits to prevent negative impacts on teen mental health. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends developing a family media plan, which can be an individualized set of guidelines that seem practical for each household. Families can have regular conversations with adolescents about screen use and could consider keeping bedtimes screen-free to improve sleep quality.
Our previous research has shown that parent rules limiting screen use before bedtime and around mealtime are associated with less screen time and problematic screen use. One of the biggest predictors of adolescents' screen use is their parents' screen use. It is important that parents act as role models for their children. For instance, if parents make a family rule not to use screens or text at mealtime, they should try to follow the rules also.
Mashable: You and your co-authors note that experiencing the benefits of social media can be tied to "purpose-driven" use. What does that look like?
Dr Nagata: Social media is not inherently bad or good — it really depends on how it's being used. Social media can promote connection, communication, and education, which can benefit health. However, exposure to hateful content and constant comparisons to peers on social media can worsen mental health. While social media can provide educational content, it can also provide health misinformation.
To optimize benefits while minimizing health risks, we encourage teens to be mindful and intentional about their social media use. Am I using social media to connect meaningfully, learn, or express creativity? Or am I doom scrolling out of boredom? Take time to reflect on how social media makes you feel. If you find that social media is causing more stress or anxiety than enjoyment, it may be time to consider alternative activities that make you feel better.
