A significant study conducted by The University of Manchester has found minimal evidence linking social media use or video gaming to mental health issues in young teenagers. This research, published in the Journal of Public Health, involved over 25,000 pupils from Greater Manchester and represents one of the largest investigations on this topic to date.
The research team followed adolescents aged 11-14 over three school years as part of the #BeeWell programme. This initiative aims to enhance understanding and improve the wellbeing of young people. Historically, there has been a growing concern among parents and educators that platforms like TikTok and Instagram, along with video games, contribute significantly to rising levels of anxiety and depression among teenagers. However, the findings from this study suggest a more nuanced reality.
Dr. Qiqi Cheng, the lead author of the study, stated, “We know families are worried, but our results do not support the idea that simply spending time on social media or gaming leads to mental health problems – the story is far more complex than that.” The research monitored pupils’ self-reported social media usage, gaming frequency, and emotional difficulties to determine whether these technological habits predict later mental health problems.
Over the course of the study, researchers found no correlation between increased social media use or gaming and heightened symptoms of anxiety or depression in the following year, applicable to both boys and girls. This challenges the prevailing narrative that equates screen time with deteriorating mental health among youth.
Interestingly, the study revealed some distinct patterns. Girls who engaged in gaming more frequently tended to spend slightly less time on social media the following year. Meanwhile, boys who reported experiencing more emotional difficulties were more likely to reduce their gaming time in subsequent months. The researchers propose that these behaviors could be linked to a decrease in interest in hobbies during periods of low mood or parental interventions that limit screen time when children show signs of distress.
The research team also examined the impact of different online activities, such as actively engaging in conversations on social media compared to passively scrolling through content. Despite these variations, the overall conclusion remained consistent: technology usage alone does not appear to be a driving factor in mental health challenges.
While the study offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between screen time and mental health, the authors caution against interpreting these findings as an indication that online experiences are without risk. They emphasize that harmful interactions, online pressures, and exposure to extreme content can have genuine effects on wellbeing. The authors argue that focusing solely on the quantity of screen time oversimplifies a complex issue.
This research adds to the ongoing dialogue about the role of technology in adolescent mental health, providing a more comprehensive understanding that could inform parents, educators, and policymakers in their approaches to supporting young people’s wellbeing.
