Organizers of a new study at the Karolinska Institute have managed to debunk a widespread myth that social media is the main cause of declining mental health among young people. Experts monitored over 3,000 Swedish teenagers over a period of five years. This allowed them to determine that the time spent on social networks at ages 15–16 does not lead to depression or anxiety by ages 20–21.
In 2017, researchers sent out questionnaires to 500 Swedish schools. More than 5,500 teenagers aged 15–16 answered questions about the time they spent online and their mental state. Five years later, scientists re-interviewed 3,000 of them, assessing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
The initial survey of teenagers showed that those who spent more time on social media did report a slightly higher number of mental health issues. However, researchers then accounted for other factors — previous mental health problems, gender, socioeconomic status, and physical activity. In a comprehensive analysis, this link completely disappeared. And five years later, time spent on social media during adolescence did not predict any risk of depression or other disorders at all.
The scientists emphasize that social media serves both positive and negative functions, and it is important to understand not only how much time young people devote to these platforms, but also what exactly they do there. Moreover, further research is needed to understand how social networks might crowd out activities that are important for well-being.
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