US EditionUCSF Study Finds Link Between Pre-Teens' Social Media Use and Depression Symptoms
- A study involving nearly 12,000 preteens across the U.S. Found that higher social media use between ages 9 and 13 is associated with an increase in depressive symptoms over time.
- The study analyzed data from nearly 12,000 children over three years using the federally funded Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study and found that social media preceded depression symptoms.
- Average daily time spent on social media by participants grew from just seven minutes at age 9 to 73 minutes by age 12, during which depression symptoms increased by 35%; however, higher depression levels did not lead to greater social media use.
- Lead researcher Dr. Jason Nagata highlighted that the study’s results suggest social media could play a role in increasing depressive symptoms, and he advised promoting thoughtful and balanced screen time practices.
- The results suggest parents should monitor and model healthy social media use and establish screen-free times to support their children's mental health and well-being.
26 Articles
26 Articles
Newsbug.info
Social Media Increases Depression Risk In Pre-Teens
Key Takeaways
Social media use may cause depression among young people, new study finds
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. C…
UCSF study finds link between pre-teens' social media use and depression symptoms
Pre-teens who increased their social media use had an average 35% increase in symptoms of depression, according to new research led by a University of California San Francisco pediatrician, which was published Wednesday in JAMA and the Lancet.
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