Particle.news
Download on the App Store
5 ARTICLES
·
yesterday

Social Media Use in Preteens Linked to Increased Risk of Depression, UCSF Study Finds

New longitudinal research reveals social media use predicts a 35% rise in depressive symptoms among preteens, with cyberbullying and sleep disruption identified as key factors.

New research finds that more social media use may lead to depressive symptoms over time.
Image
Image
Image

Overview

  • A UCSF study published in JAMA Network Open found that higher social media use in preteens predicts a significant increase in depressive symptoms by early adolescence.
  • The research, involving nearly 12,000 children, showed that prior depressive symptoms did not lead to increased social media use, refuting earlier assumptions.
  • On average, daily social media use among participants rose from seven minutes at ages 9–10 to over an hour by ages 12–13, coinciding with worsening mental health outcomes.
  • Cyberbullying and disrupted sleep were highlighted as potential mechanisms linking social media use to depression, with related research showing cyberbullied children are over 2.5 times more likely to attempt suicide.
  • Experts recommend parental strategies such as setting screen-free times and fostering open conversations about digital habits, though some critics argue the study's effect sizes are too small to draw definitive conclusions.