The amount of time spent on social media is not directly linked to the increase of teen depression, according to a new study from Brigham Young University.
"We spent eight years trying to really understand the relationship between time spent on social media and depression for developing teenagers," said Sarah Coyne, the study’s lead researcher and a professor of family life at Brigham Young University.
"If they increased their social media time, would it make them more depressed? Also, if they decreased their social media time, were they less depressed? The answer is no. We found that time spent on social media was not what was impacting anxiety or depression," Coyne explained.
The results of her study published in Computers in Human Behavior appear in contrast to what critics often claim about the impact of social media on teen depression.
Coyne’s study reveals that the amount of time spent on social media is not the only factor that contributes to the increase in depression or anxiety among teenagers. “For example, two teenagers could use social media for exactly the same amount of time but may have vastly different outcomes as a result of the way they are using it," Coyne said.
Coyne’s team surveyed 500 youth between the ages of 13 and 20, who completed once-yearly questionnaires over an eight-year span. The participants were asked how much time they spend on social media on a typical day. They also answered questions with different scales that indicate symptoms of depression and levels of anxiety.
For her recommendations, Coyne points out that teen social media users should be active users, limit social media use before bedtime, and be intentional and reflective on how they use social media.
"If you get on specifically to seek out information or to connect with others, that can have a more positive effect than getting on just because you're bored," Coyne added.
