Research following more than 3000 young people found that low to average social media use at ages 11 and 14 did not strongly predict mental ill health three years later, including depression and anxiety, self-harm and suicide attempts

A new study from the University of Edinburgh, the University of Oxford, and Paracelsus Medical University in Austria found little evidence that the amount of time young people spend on social media is linked to later mental health issues. The research, which followed over 3,000 young people, showed that low to average social media use at ages 11 and 14 did not strongly predict mental ill health three years later, including depression and anxiety, self-harm, and suicide attempts. However, heavy social media use at age 14 was linked to a small but notable increase of about three percent in suicide attempts by age 17. The study highlights the need for further research to address the complexity of the issue, considering factors such as how the platforms are used and whether the behavior shows signs of being unhealthy or addictive.