Resource Library Key Research Associations Between Time Spent Using Social Media…

Key Research

Associations Between Time Spent Using Social Media and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems Among US Youth

View article here

Key Takeaways:

  • Young people who spend more than 3 hours per day on social media may be at heightened risk for mental health problems, particularly internalizing problems
  • “One-quarter of adolescents think social media has a mostly negative influence on people their age, pointing to reasons like rumor spreading, lack of in-person contact, unrealistic views of others’ lives, peer pressure, and mental health issues” 
  • Future research should determine whether setting daily limits social media use, increasing media literacy, and redesigning social media platforms are effective means of reducing mental health problems.

LiveMore ScreenLess’ Summary

Social media use may be significantly tied to both internalizing problems (such as depression and anxiety) and externalizing problems (such as bullying and attention difficulties). A 2019 study of 6,595 U.S. adolescents builds on the existing literature examining these associations. Even after researchers adjusted for mental health issues reported prior to social media use, the odds of participants reporting severe internalizing and externalizing problems increased with greater periods of time spent on social media per day. 

Riehm, K. E., et al., Associations between time spent using social media and internalizing and externalizing problems among US youth. JAMA Psychiatry, 76, 1266–1273. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.2325. 2019.

Topics: Social/Emotional Learning

Year: 2019

Hosting University: National Institute of Mental Health Psychiatric Epidemiology Training Program, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (grant funding)

Participants: 6,595 adolescents

Data Collection: longitudinal cohort study

Related Resources

“Should schools ban smartphones in the classroom?” (WBUR) Podcasts
Topics:
Attention , Device Use Policy , Social/Emotional Learning
Image placeholder
“Am I Even Going to Be Well-Liked in Person?”: First-Year Students’ Social Media Use, Sense of… Key Research
Topics:
Positive Social Norms , Social Media , Social/Emotional Learning
“Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory” (2… Advisories
Topics:
Loneliness , Mental Health , Social/Emotional Learning
listenin-uncomfortably-comfortable
Listen In: Uncomfortably Comfortable Videos
Topics:
Cyberbullying , Loneliness , Microaggressions , Parenting , Social Media , Social/Emotional Learning , Stress , Youth Voice