Overview
- The University of Manchester’s #BeeWell study of 25,000 pupils aged 11–14, published in the Journal of Public Health, found no evidence that spending more time on social media or gaming caused later anxiety or depression.
- The Australian JAMA Pediatrics analysis of nearly 101,000 students in grades 4–12 reported a nonlinear ‘Goldilocks’ pattern, with moderate use tied to the best wellbeing and both heavy use and abstinence linked to poorer outcomes.
- Risk varied by subgroup: in years 7–9, girls with heavy social media use had markedly higher odds of low wellbeing, while by late adolescence boys who did not use social media at all were more likely to report poorer outcomes.
- Both teams stressed observational limits and self-reported measures, noting the results do not prove cause and that harmful online experiences can still negatively affect young people.
- Researchers and clinicians urged moving away from hours-only rules or blanket bans toward strategies focused on content, connection, platform safeguards, and targeted support.