Research points to a connection between social media use and mental health problems.

Get the facts to better understand your child’s brain.

TEEN BRAINS

  • Teen brains are extra-sensitive to social interactions and peer approval.

  • Brain changes during puberty make teens vulnerable to anxiety and depression.

  • Teens already at higher risk for mental health problems are most likely to be negatively affected by social media.

APP DESIGN

  • Social media is designed to hook teens with infinite scroll, autoplay, and notifications.

  • Platform algorithms serve up tailored content to keep kids scrolling.

  • What you can do: learn how to use parental controls, establish a family media plan, and model good “phone hygiene” for your child.

THE RESEARCH

  • Growing evidence points to a connection between time spent on social media and mental health problems among youth.

  • Teen girls are more at risk than are boys.

  • It’s not all bad: screen time isn’t universally harmful, and some young people find support in online communities (eg LGBTQ+ youth).

“Children compare themselves to others via social media, and that can lead to feelings of inadequacy, social isolation and depression and anxiety.”

– Dimitri Christakis, editor in chief of JAMA Pediatrics

The Research

The Consensus

  • Most researchers agree that increased social media use, particularly on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, correlates with poorer mental health in adolescents. This correlation appears stronger in teen girls than in boys.

  • However, not all screen time is detrimental. Texting, emails, academic work, and video games often have neutral or positive impacts.

Limitations

  • The extent and significance of the findings are debated among researchers.

  • Data is mostly correlative - meaning it’s unclear if people who use more social media may become more depressed, or, if people who are more depressed may be more active on social media.

  • There is a lack of long-term studies, studies of newer platforms such as TikTok, and studies specifically about social media use.

  • Samples are potentially non-representative.

There is a growing body of evidence linking teen social media use and poor mental health.

We've put all the best research in one place.