A study conducted at the University of California, San Francisco, found that the increase in time teenagers spend on social media is directly linked to increased symptoms of depression. Over three years, the average amount of time children spend on social media daily increased from 7 to 73 minutes, which led to a 35% increase in depression.
The study involved nearly 12,000 children, who were followed from ages 9–10 to 12–13. The head of the research team, Dr. Jason Nagata, noted that the results confirm the impact of social media on the mental health of adolescents.
The exact causes of this effect are not yet known, but researchers suggest that cyberbullying and sleep disruption play a role. Children who have been cyberbullied are at significantly increased risk of suicidal thoughts and substance use, such as marijuana, nicotine, and alcohol.
Experts advise parents to not just limit screen time, but to create an atmosphere of trust and open dialogue with their children about their digital experiences. Establishing family screen-free time, such as during mealtimes and before bed, will help form healthy habits.
Interestingly, despite the difficulties of war, Ukrainian teenagers are less anxious at school than their peers abroad.
