Health

Study: Social Media Affects Teens With Mental Health Issues More Than Peers

MAY 6 2025·Updated MAY 7 2025

Story

Above: A girl holds a smartphone in her hand. Image credit: Helena Dolderer/picture alliance via Getty Images

The Facts

A comprehensive study of 3,340 U.K. teenagers led by researchers at the University of Cambridge revealed that those with mental health conditions spend approximately 50 minutes more daily on social media compared to their peers without such conditions.
Nature
Nature
The study, published Monday in the journal Nature Human Behavior, shows that 48% of adolescents with internalizing conditions like anxiety and depression engage in social comparison online, double the rate of those without mental health conditions.
Neuroscience News
News
Research found that teenagers with mental health conditions report greater dissatisfaction with their number of online friends and experience more significant mood changes due to social media feedback.
ScienceDaily
News
Clinical assessments conducted by professional raters, involving interviews with young people, parents, and teachers, demonstrated clear differences in social media usage patterns between affected and unaffected teens.
TUN
Nature
About 28% of adolescents with internalizing conditions reported mood changes in response to social media feedback, compared to 13% of those without mental health conditions. They also showed less self-control over their usage and were less open about their emotions online.
ScienceDaily
Neuroscience News
The research analyzed data from a 2017 NHS survey of 11- to 19-year-olds, including clinical assessments and questions about social media use. Sixteen percent of participants had at least one diagnosed mental health condition, including anxiety, depression, or ADHD.
Nature
News

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

Social media significantly impacts adolescent mental health, with clear evidence showing increased depression and anxiety among users. The introduction of Facebook alone caused clinical depression in 2% of college students. Deactivating accounts improves well-being, making age restrictions urgently needed to protect younger people.

The Washington Examiner

NBER

Narrative B

The relationship between social media use and mental health is complex and not necessarily causal. Time spent on social media alone does not directly increase anxiety or depression, as outcomes vary significantly based on how teenagers use the platforms. The focus should be on context and content rather than screen time.

ABC

ScienceDaily