Study Links Increased Social Media Use to Higher Anxiety and Depression in Teens, Particularly Girls

A recent study co-led by researchers at the University of Alberta indicates that increased time on social media is contributing to heightened anxiety and depression among Canadian teenagers, particularly girls. The findings, published in the Journal of Adolescence, analyzed how daily social media usage impacted the mental health of teens over the course of one year.

The research examined two large cohorts of individuals aged 12 to 18, one with over 58,000 teens during the 2021–22 school year and another comprising nearly 45,000 teens in 2022–23. Additionally, researchers tracked nearly 27,000 of the same adolescents from one year to the next. The data was sourced from COMPASS, a large-scale project collecting health and behavior data in schools across multiple Canadian provinces.

The study found that each additional hour spent on social media daily correlated with a 15% increase in the likelihood of moderate to severe depression, alongside a 12% to 13% rise in the chances of experiencing similar levels of anxiety. This is significant given the high volume of youth actively using social media today, according to Madelyn Curle, who conducted the study as part of her Ph.D. research.

The researchers also observed that higher social media usage was associated with diminished overall well-being, reduced emotional control, and deterioration in personal relationships. While all teens showed a decline in mental health linked to increased social media use, the effects were notably pronounced among girls. Curle explained that girls may use social media more intensely and might be more affected by body image issues stemming from these platforms.

Moreover, the longitudinal aspect of the research indicated that rising social media use predicted worsening mental health across all adolescents without revealing gender differences. These findings emphasize the importance of developing policies to safeguard youth mental health, highlighted by Dr. Valerie Carson, a co-author of the study.

The research supports calls for the "Safe Social Media Act" in Canada, which aims to restrict usage for those under the age of 16. Carson noted that reducing social media use over time could enhance mental health outcomes, reinforcing the need for policies that balance potential benefits with risks. Curle further suggested involving youths in discussions about social media policies to ensure equitable considerations are made.