Researchers at University College London have found that social media is not likely to cause mental health problems in teens. These studies appeared in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
According to WHO, one in seven adolescents (aged 10-19 years) suffers from a mental disorder, and half of all mental illness begins by the age of 14. According to experts, the number of young people with mental disorders has increased over the past 20 years, and the blame for this is often attributed to the influence of social networks.
The researchers assessed the number of hours spent on social media on a five-point scale from “none” to “seven hours or more” at ages 12-13. They then examined data on children’s self-esteem and mental health.
Nearly 3,000 children took part in the study. They were followed for several years.
The researchers found no evidence that more time on social media is associated with poorer mental health among teens in the UK. However, there may be a link between social media and its negative impact on young people’s self-esteem.
“Our findings provide some confidence that social media may not be as harmful to young people’s mental health as previously thought. However, we must also understand that social media can have both positive and negative effects on the mental health of young people, and there are still many unanswered questions,” the scientists explained.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
