Teens’ social media use could lead to higher levels of depression

University College London researchers are suggesting that content posted and viewed
on social networks could play a more determining role in the incidence of depression
in teens than the social platforms themselves.
Social media has been associated with negative effects on mental health. An
Australian study published in late 2018 in The Australian Journal of Psychology has
compared the abusive use of the platforms to addictions to substances such as alcohol.

A January 2019 study published in The Lancet has established a link between
excessive social media consumption and teenage depression.
But the main problem is not with the social networks themselves, but rather the
manner in which they are used, according to their study, published Tuesday, Aug. 13,
in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, which surveyed 12,866 adolescents aged
13 to 16.
The participants were interrogated on the frequency of social network usage, with
checking one’s phone over three times qualified as “very frequent” usage by the
researchers. These indications did not, however, take into account connections from a
computer.
The teens were also prompted for information regarding their mental health, across
variables such as life satisfaction, happiness and anxiety.

Higher risk of cyber bullying

The researchers noted that very frequent use of social media was associated with a
higher incidence of psychological distress, especially in young girls.
“Our results suggest that social media itself does not cause harm, but that frequent use
may disrupt activities that have a positive impact on mental health such as sleeping
and exercising,” said study co-author Russell Viner, of UCL’s Great Ormond Street
Institute of Child Health.
The theory has been floated before, a Canadian study published in July in the journal
Jama Pediatrics suggests that time spent on social media replaces that which could be
spent on more uplifting activities, such as sports or walks in nature.
Viner’s team alerts us that another risk faced by teens is exposure to cyberbullying,
especially for young women, and that interventions aiming at promoting mental health
should include efforts to prevent cyberbullying.
FACT SHEET

 A January 2019 study published in The Lancet has established a link between
excessive social media consumption and teenage depression.

 Social media has been associated with negative effects on mental health. An
Australian study published in late 2018 in The Australian Journal of
Psychology has compared the abusive use of the platforms to addictions to
substances such as alcohol.

 University College London researchers are suggesting that content posted and
viewed on social networks could play a more determining role in the incidence
of depression in teens than the social platforms themselves.

 But the main problem is not with the social networks themselves, but rather the
manner in which they are used, according to their study, published Tuesday,
Aug. 13, in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, which surveyed 12,866
adolescents aged 13 to 16.

 The teens were also prompted for information regarding their mental health,
across variables such as life satisfaction, happiness and anxiety.

 The participants were interrogated on the frequency of social network usage,

with checking one’s phone over three times qualified as “very frequent” usage
by the researchers. These indications did not, however, take into account
connections from a computer.

Higher risk of cyber bullying

 The theory has been floated before, a Canadian study published in July in the
journal Jama Pediatrics suggests that time spent on social media replaces that
which could be spent on more uplifting activities, such as sports or walks in
nature.
 Viner’s team alerts us that another risk faced by teens is exposure to
cyberbullying, especially for young women, and that interventions aiming at
promoting mental health should include efforts to prevent cyberbullying.
 The researchers noted that very frequent use of social media was associated
with a higher incidence of psychological distress, especially in young girls.
 “Our results suggest that social media itself does not cause harm, but that
frequent use may disrupt activities that have a positive impact on mental health
such as sleeping and exercising,” said study co-author Russell Viner, of UCL’s
Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health.