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A new study examined the link between early social media use and depression in adolescence and young adulthood. It found that certain factors can make social media use riskier or more protective in relation to depression. The results were published in Journal for Adolescencesuggest that social media use does not have the same impact on all adolescents and that an individualised approach is needed to determine the benefits and harms of social media on young people’s mental health.

For the study, 488 adolescents living in the United States were surveyed once a year for eight years (starting in 2010, when the average age of participants was 13). The researchers found five classes that differed in the way self-reported duration of social media use was related to depressive symptoms. Although high reported social media use was often associated with greater increases in depressive symptoms, this was not universal.

Social media use was associated with increased depression among adolescents who experienced greater parental hostility, peer bullying, anxiety, stress reactivity, and lower parental media monitoring, among many other characteristics and factors. Social media use was associated with less depression or was unrelated to depression.

When thinking about whether social media might affect a particular teen, it’s important to take a broad perspective. If the teen is already in a vulnerable position (being bullied or having hostile parents or parents who don’t monitor their teen’s media), the likelihood of social media being harmful is much greater. This is especially true if use is more than 3 hours per day. However, if their friends and parents are warm and supportive and parents monitor their teen’s media use, moderate social media use (less than 3 hours per day) may be a good thing. Teens seem to benefit greatly from parents providing guidance in navigating social media. This guidance can make all the difference.”

W. Justin Dyer, PhD, corresponding author, Brigham Young University