New research reveals mixed impact of social media on youth mental health

New independent research from the Netherlands and Australia was released yesterday, shedding light on the complex relationship between social media use and the mental health of young people. The studies, conducted by the University of Amsterdam and three Australian mental health organizations, provide valuable insights into how different social media platforms affect adolescent well-being, friendship closeness, and self-esteem.

According to the University of Amsterdam research, Snapchat emerged as the only major social media platform with a positive impact on well-being among adolescents. The study found that time spent on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube consistently showed negative effects across three mental health dimensions. In contrast, Snapchat usage positively influenced friendship closeness and overall well-being, while having no significant impact on self-esteem.

The Australian research, drawn from the Future Proofing Study - Australia's largest longitudinal study on youth mental health - revealed that higher usage of Snapchat was not significantly associated with any of the mental health symptoms examined. This finding contrasts with other platforms, which showed varying degrees of negative associations with mental health outcomes.

These studies come at a time when concerns about the impact of social media on young people's mental health have been growing. The research provides a more nuanced understanding of the issue, highlighting that not all social media platforms have the same effects on users' well-being.

The Future Proofing Study, conducted by the Black Dog Institute, surveyed 4,058 adolescents in Year 8 and again in Year 9 to investigate the relationships between screen use and mental health over time. The study found that while there were significant cross-sectional associations between daily screen time and greater symptoms of depression and anxiety in Year 8 students, these associations were not maintained over the 12-month period from Year 8 to Year 9.

This longitudinal data suggests that higher daily screen time is unlikely to be the primary cause of depression and anxiety in adolescents. Instead, the relationship between screen use and mental health appears to be bidirectional, with mental health symptoms and screen use influencing each other in a complex interplay.

The research also highlighted the importance of how young people use social media. More frequently using social media to passively consume content was associated with higher symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and disordered eating. However, using social media to communicate with people known in real life was associated with lower symptoms of depression and anxiety.

These findings have significant implications for how parents, educators, and policymakers approach the issue of social media use among young people. They suggest that blanket restrictions or bans on social media use may not be the most effective approach to protecting youth mental health.

The studies also emphasize the need for more nuanced approaches to social media regulation and education. For instance, teaching young people how to use social media in ways that promote positive connections and active engagement, rather than passive consumption, could be beneficial.

In light of these findings, mental health organizations are calling for improved safety measures on social media platforms. ReachOut, Beyond Blue, and the Black Dog Institute have jointly submitted recommendations to the Australian Parliament's investigation into social media and Australian society.

These recommendations include:

1. Policy co-design: Involving young people in the development of policies aimed at protecting them on social media. This approach acknowledges their unique insights and can lead to more effective and well-received interventions.
2. Safety-by-design: Introducing mandatory safety-by-design principles for social media platforms. This could include limiting features such as infinite scroll and ensuring default safety settings for users under 16.
3. Algorithmic transparency: Requiring social media companies to provide regular transparency reports on the content served by their algorithms to Australian users. This would allow for independent monitoring and research into the effects of social media algorithms on mental health.
4. User control: Mandating easily accessible features for users to control or reset their algorithms and customize their feeds. This empowers users to have more control over their online environments, which has been linked to better mental health outcomes.
5. Verification of health content: Establishing a model for verification of trusted evidence-based content or accounts in collaboration with Australian health and mental health organizations. This would help combat misinformation and provide users with reliable health information.
6. Research funding: Creating a social media industry-funded model dedicated to implementing evidence-based wellbeing and digital literacy interventions and research on the impact of social media on mental health.

These recommendations aim to create a safer online environment for young people while preserving the potential benefits of social media use. They reflect a growing recognition that social media is not inherently harmful, but its effects depend largely on how it is used and designed.

The research also highlights the positive potential of social media. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, social media played a significant role in helping young people manage anxiety and depression. It has also been shown to provide valuable support for specific sub-groups, such as international students and young people from marginalized communities.

Social media can offer benefits such as improved social connectedness, reduced loneliness, increased self-determination, enhanced feelings of control, and increased emotional support. These benefits are particularly evident among young people at risk of social isolation or exclusion due to diversity or geography.

However, the studies also identified several risk factors associated with social media use. These include:

1. Upward social comparisons: Comparing oneself to others who are perceived as superior or more successful, particularly in terms of body image, material possessions, or lifestyle.
2. Exposure to age-inappropriate or distressing content: Social media algorithms have been shown to increase exposure to psychologically harmful content related to topics such as disordered eating, self-harm, and prejudice or discrimination.
3. Time displacement: Excessive time spent on social media can displace other important activities such as sleep, physical exercise, and face-to-face social interactions.
4. Passive consumption: Using social media primarily to consume content passively, rather than for active communication or creation, is associated with poorer mental health outcomes.

The research also revealed interesting patterns in how young people use social media. According to the Black Dog Institute's Future Proofing Study, 93% of young Australians reported using social media at least once a day in 2024. On average, young Australians spend 2-3 hours per day on social media, with Instagram (79%), Snapchat (74%), and TikTok (67%) being the most popular platforms.

Interestingly, of these platforms, Australian young people reported spending the most time each day on TikTok, averaging 2-3 hours, compared to 1-2 hours each day on Snapchat and 0-1 hours on Instagram.

The studies also highlighted the gap between parent and youth perceptions of social media's impacts. A nationally representative survey of 631 parents and carers conducted by ReachOut in April 2023 found that 59% of parents and carers said their teens' social media use was a concern, with 35% saying it was a top issue of concern. However, in separate research by ReachOut, young people ranked social media outside of their top ten issues of concern, at number 24, below issues such as the cost of living, loneliness, and study stress.

This discrepancy underscores the need for improved communication and understanding between generations about the role of social media in young people's lives.

The research also revealed that social media is increasingly becoming a key source of mental health information for young people. A study by ReachOut found that young people use social media platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram as much as Google to search for mental health information. This trend highlights the importance of ensuring that reliable, evidence-based mental health information is readily available on these platforms.

Mental health organizations are adapting to this trend by using social media to connect with young people and provide support. For instance, ReachOut uses social media platforms to deliver timely mental health content that addresses key events in young people's lives. In 2022-23, ReachOut's organic social media reach was over 3.4 million, while its in-kind and paid campaigns reached over 1.5 million users across Snapchat, Meta, and Google platforms.

Similarly, Beyond Blue uses social media to share information and educational resources about mental health, aligning with current events and specific mental health promotion campaign objectives. Over the 12 months to June 2024, Beyond Blue reached more than 8.3 million people via Facebook alone.

These organizations are also working to keep social media safe. Beyond Blue, for example, employs a team of moderators who work around the clock to support people posting on its social media channels and online community forum. Over the past 18 months, Beyond Blue moderators have reviewed 41,000 replies, removing harmful content and offering further support as needed.

The research and recommendations come at a time when governments around the world are grappling with how to regulate social media to protect young users. The findings suggest that a nuanced approach is necessary - one that recognizes both the potential benefits and risks of social media use, and that empowers young people to use these platforms in ways that support their mental health and well-being.

As social media continues to evolve and play an increasingly central role in young people's lives, ongoing research and dialogue will be crucial. The studies highlighted here provide valuable insights, but also underscore the need for continued investigation into the complex relationship between social media use and mental health.

Key facts from the research

Snapchat was the only major social media platform found to have a positive impact on well-being among adolescents.

TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube showed consistent negative effects across three mental health dimensions.

Higher usage of Snapchat was not significantly associated with any of the mental health symptoms examined in the Australian study.

93% of young Australians reported using social media at least once a day in 2024.

Young Australians spend an average of 2-3 hours per day on social media.

Instagram (79%), Snapchat (74%), and TikTok (67%) are the most popular social media platforms among young Australians.

TikTok usage averaged 2-3 hours per day, compared to 1-2 hours for Snapchat and 0-1 hours for Instagram.

59% of parents and carers expressed concern about their teens' social media use.

Young people ranked social media as their 24th issue of concern, below cost of living, loneliness, and study stress.

Young people use social media platforms as much as Google to search for mental health information.

ReachOut's organic social media reach was over 3.4 million in 2022-23.

Beyond Blue reached more than 8.3 million people via Facebook over 12 months to June 2024.

Beyond Blue moderators reviewed 41,000 replies on their social media channels and online community forum over 18 months.

Using social media to passively consume content was associated with higher symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and disordered eating.

Using social media to communicate with people known in real life was associated with lower symptoms of depression and anxiety.