Link between the use of social media and mental health by adolescents

The results showed that the use of social media for an indefinite period was associated with an increased risk of internalization of problems and symptoms of internalization and outsourcing. Interestingly, however, participants who spent at least three hours a day on social media had the greatest risk of reporting problems with internalization.

So, is three the magic number of hours of use on social networks? Much remains to be learned about the complex relationship between mental health and social media, but it is helpful to have a number to work with. As Kira Riehm, MSc, one of the lead authors of the study, explains, "many existing studies have linked the use of digital or social media with the health of teenagers, but few people examine this association over time. "

These results also suggest that the impact on social media is fast enough to grow. "Our study shows that teens who report a lot of time on social media are more likely to report problems with internalization a year later," said Riehm. It is important to note that this study does not prove that social media actually causes mental health problems, but as Riehm says, "We think that less time spent on social media could be better for teenagers' health. "

And it's not just teenagers who should limit their time in front of the screen. Here is the proof that social media is causing depression and advice on setting limits on your phone.