Excessive use of social media is linked to an increased likelihood of developing depression, according to a study that analyzed hundreds of thousands of questionnaires over 11 years.
Researchers from the University of Cincinnati and Northwestern University found that time spent on social media was among the top indicators of depression self-reported by participants, outperforming other factors such as job and educational background, as well as other digital and recreational activities, including video games, internet browsing, and watching television.
The study was based on an analysis of 183,300 anonymous questionnaires from people aged 18 to 70, whose data were collected as part of the "Annual Study of Media Behaviors and Influences".
Reducing time spent on social media does not necessarily mean better mental health.
Reducing time spent on social media does not necessarily mean better mental health.
Researchers analyzed the data using a machine learning model to identify the factors most strongly associated with depression among participants. The results showed a growing correlation between the time people spent on social media and the likelihood of reporting depressive symptoms.
Interestingly, the researchers observed the same pattern in each of the eleven years included in the analysis, with the correlation appearing among people who use social media for at least 150 minutes a day.
Hans Breiter, a professor at the University of Cincinnati and the lead author of the study, said the link between social media and depression remained clear across tests conducted during the years of study.
He added that the results represent a "wake-up call" that calls for finding ways to reduce the potential harm of intensive use of digital platforms.
The study also showed that the importance of social media as an indicator associated with depression has increased over the years, while other factors, such as watching television and browsing the internet, have been less important in explaining this association.
Vikram Suresh, a research assistant at the University of Cincinnati and lead author of the study, said that much of the previous research focused on teenagers and young adults, or relied on measuring total screen time, without differentiating between social media and other digital activities.
He explained that the new study sought to find out if the relationship between social media and mental health appears in different age groups and across multiple years.
Researchers believe that the nature of social media use has changed dramatically since its inception. Nicole Fake, a senior research assistant at the University of Cincinnati and a co-author of the study, said that platforms were initially a way to connect with people users knew, but today they rely more heavily on consuming content produced by strangers.
She added that the nature of these platforms makes it easy to spend long periods browsing, noting that some content creators themselves are forced to stay away from the internet for long periods due to the impact of intensive use on their mental health.
Brighter said that mental health and happiness are linked to engaging with the world and having a purpose, not to spending hours passively watching content.
Researchers do not believe that the solution necessarily lies in completely ceasing the use of social media, especially given the social pressures that drive people to stay connected and maintain a constant presence in the digital world.
Samra Barry, a senior research assistant at the University of Cincinnati and a participant in the study, said that users can take simple steps to reduce the time they spend on platforms, such as setting a timer for usage, turning off notifications, and logging out of accounts after each session ends.
She noted that knowing about potential risks early on can help users deal more consciously with these platforms.
The researchers stressed that the study's results do not prove that social media use directly causes depression, but they do indicate a stable relationship between the intensity of use and self-reported depression, which calls for further research to understand the nature of this relationship.
