US EditionSocial Media Use Triples Depression Symptoms for Pre-Teens: Study
- Dr. Jason Nagata and his team published a longitudinal study on May 21, 2025, tracking nearly 12,000 U.S. Children aged 9 to 13 from 2016 to 2022 on social media use and depression.
- The study aimed to determine whether increased social media use causes depression symptoms or simply reflects existing mental health struggles amid growing youth well-being concerns.
- Researchers found that rising social media time strongly predicted a 7-9% yearly increase in depressive symptoms, while higher depression did not lead to more social media use.
- Nagata noted that average daily time spent on social media increased from seven to 73 minutes during the study and suggested that this rise could be linked to the emergence of depressive symptoms in children.
- The study suggests clinicians and parents should monitor social media during critical early adolescence development and develop tailored strategies to mitigate mental health risks.
50 Articles
50 Articles
PBS NewsHour
New study finds link between pre-teen use of social media and depression
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco have found a link between use of social media by pre-teens and future depression. The study, published this week in the American Medical Association’s journal JAMA, said more time spent on social media “may contribute to increased depressive symptoms over time.” Ali Rogin speaks with lead researcher Dr. Jason Nagata to learn more.
Social media use triples depression symptoms for pre-teens: Study
A new cohort study from JAMA Network Open found that social media use in early adolescence is linked to significantly increased depressive symptoms over time—tripling the odds of mental health struggles in pre-teens.
WNTZ FOX 48
New Texas bill would prohibit minors from using social. Learn tips for managing child's online activity
TEXAS (KTAL/KMSS) — A new bill in Texas aims to ban children from using social media. Louisiana AG wants juvenile ‘change of venue’ bill, Caddo DA and judges do not House Bill 186 would prohibit anyone under 18 from using any social media platform. According to the Texas Legislature, if passed, House Bill 186 would require not only banning those under 18 but also requiring social media platforms to verify users' age with private and public…
Proposed bill in Texas would prohibit minors from using social media. Learn tips for managing child's online activity
TEXAS (KTAL/KMSS) — A proposed bill in Texas aims to ban children from using social media. Louisiana AG wants juvenile ‘change of venue’ bill, Caddo DA and judges do not House Bill 186 would prohibit anyone under 18 from using any social media platform. According to the Texas Legislature, if passed, House Bill 186 would require not only banning those under 18 but also requiring social media platforms to verify users' age with private and p…
Newsbug.info
Social Media Increases Depression Risk In Pre-Teens
Key Takeaways
Social media use may cause depression among young people, new study finds
For years, research on social media and youth mental health has tried to answer a perplexing question: Does use lead to worsened well-being or do young people who are struggling disproportionately spend their time on social media? Some studies have indicated that both scenarios are true while other research shows mixed results. This uncertainty has led to a fierce debate over how to regulate social media platforms and technology use in school. C…
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