Published in the Medical Journal of Australiathis study follows the same young people from 9 to 19 years old to explore the link between
social networksscreen time and mental health. Such long follow-up is rare and above all allows us to observe what is happening a year later the evolution of uses.
Two hours a day: the threshold that challenges researchers
Researchers at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, behind the Child to Adult Transition Study, identify a signal from approximately two hours daily
on social networks.
In the CATS cohort, 1,153 young people recorded each year their time spent on the platforms, but also their depressive symptoms, their anxiety, their well-being and possible self-harming behavior. Compared to those who spent less than an hour per day, adolescents spending more than two hours presented, twelve months later, more depressive symptoms and lower well-being.
The team led by Dr Nandi Vijayakumar, from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Deakin University, highlights: “Early adolescence stands out as a time when higher levels of social media use are associated with increased risk of mental health problems one year later..
The phenomenon remains moderate, but it takes on another dimension on the scale of an entire population. “Although the increases in risk were modest in our study, even small effects can have important public health consequences when large numbers of young people are exposed. This is why early adolescence could be the key time to intervene.”specifies Dr Vijayakumar.
Why 12-13 years appears to be a particularly fragile period
At this age, the upheavals of puberty are combined with a strong sensitivity to the views of others. Identity is still being constructed and emotion regulation remains developing.
In this context, a constant flow of comparisons, idealized images or comments can become particularly burdensome. Cyberbullying can further amplify this vulnerability.
Another study, carried out on 183,300 adults aged 18 to 70also finds a more marked association with depression from around 150 minutes daily. The methods differ, but the two studies converge on the same question: that of a possible exposure threshold located around two to two and a half hours per day.
Should teenagers be banned from social media?
Not necessarily. The authors do not conclude that social media is systematically harmful. Their study rather highlights a period of vulnerability and a level of use to which particular attention could be paid.
“Our results do not indicate that social media is systematically harmful, but it is not without its drawbacks.”estimates Professor Susan Sawyer. In particular, she calls for “setting age-appropriate limits”, strengthening digital education and offering clearer parental guidance.
For families, the challenge is not only to count the minutes spent in front of the screen. It is also about looking
what the teenager does there, at what age he starts and above all how he feels after spending time there.