health
Study links children’s social media use with anxiety and depression in teenage years
Researchers say lack of sleep could be a factor among young people interacting online for more than three hours a day
TL;DR
- Children using social media for more than three hours daily are more likely to experience depression and anxiety in their teenage years.
- Lack of sleep, caused by late-night social media use, is a potential key factor in this correlation.
- The link between social media use and mental health outcomes is more significant for girls.
- Researchers analyzed data from 2,350 children in London, tracking their digital habits and mental health from ages 11-12 to 13-15.
- The study calls for increased digital literacy and sleep awareness education in secondary schools.
- While some propose bans on social media for under-16s, researchers suggest more evidence is needed to support such measures in the UK, advocating for observation of Australia's recent ban.