New research from the University of Manchester has delivered a significant challenge to prevailing concerns, finding that the amount of time teenagers spend on social media or gaming does not lead to an increase in mental health problems like anxiety and depression.
Tracking Teen Habits Over Three Years
The large-scale study followed a cohort of 25,000 young people aged 11 to 14 across three consecutive school years. Researchers meticulously tracked the participants' self-reported social media use, gaming frequency, and emotional states to determine if technology use could predict later mental health difficulties.
Participants detailed how much time they spent on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat on a normal school day, as well as their gaming habits. They also answered questions about their feelings, moods, and overall mental wellbeing.
Zero Detrimental Impact Found
The findings, published in the Journal of Public Health, revealed no evidence that heavier social media use or more frequent gaming increased symptoms of anxiety or depression in the following year for either boys or girls.
Increases in social media use from Year 8 to Year 9, and again from Year 9 to Year 10, had zero detrimental impact on mental health the next year. Similarly, more time spent gaming also showed a zero negative effect on pupils' emotional wellbeing.
A More Nuanced Picture of Online Life
Lead author Dr Qiqi Cheng stated: "We know families are worried, but our results do not support the idea that simply spending time on social media or gaming leads to mental health problems – the story is far more complex than that."
The study also examined whether how young people used social media made a difference, looking at activities like chatting, posting content, or passively scrolling through feeds. Neither active communication nor passive browsing appeared to drive mental health difficulties.
However, the authors were careful to stress that their findings do not mean online experiences are harmless. They highlighted that hurtful messages, online pressures, and exposure to extreme content can still negatively affect wellbeing. The key takeaway is that focusing solely on restricting screen time is not a helpful solution.
Co-author Professor Neil Humphrey explained: "Our findings tell us that young people’s choices around social media and gaming may be shaped by how they’re feeling, but not necessarily the other way around. Rather than blaming technology itself, we need to pay attention to what young people are doing online, who they’re connecting with and how supported they feel in their daily lives."
The research emerges as UK ministers consider whether to follow Australia's example in proposing a ban on social media use for under-16s, suggesting policy should be informed by this more detailed understanding of teen digital behaviour.
