An Australian-led study published in JAMA Pediatrics found children and teenagers who spend more time on social media are more likely to experience depression, self-harm, substance use, and lower achievement later in life. The systematic review examined data from 153 studies involving over 350,000 children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years, tracked for up to two decades.
The research focused on longitudinal studies that follow participants over time, offering stronger insights than previous snapshot-style research. According to Sam Teague, a senior research fellow at James Cook University, "The strongest pattern we saw was between social media use and later problematic media use, suggesting early patterns of engagement may become more entrenched and difficult to manage over time."
The study identified consistent links between higher social media use and various developmental outcomes, including cognitive, social-emotional, physical health, and motor development issues. However, researchers emphasized that the findings do not prove social media directly causes harm, only that associations exist between usage patterns and negative outcomes.
Experts note the relationship may be more complex than direct causation. Amy Orben from the University of Cambridge suggested that "children who are already struggling spend more time on social media, rather than social media being the cause of their difficulties." The research indicates adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to these effects, though the study appears incomplete in the provided source.