Growing evil among minors: Social media contributes to depressive symptoms

MADRID (EFE).— The increasing use of social media during early adolescence could contribute to an increase in depressive symptoms, according to a study led by the University of San Francisco and published in the journal “JAMA Network Open.”

The study followed 11,876 children between the ages of 9 and 13 for three years. According to the results, daily social media use increased from seven minutes to 73, while depressive symptoms increased by 35%.

“These findings provide evidence that social media may be contributing to the development of depressive symptoms,” said Jason Nagata, first author of the study and a professor at the University of San Francisco.

The study used longitudinal intrapersonal data, which allowed for an assessment of how each child changed over time.

"This allowed us to precisely observe how the relationship between social media and depression evolves," Nagata said. The researchers concluded that social media use in a single individual was associated with increased depressive symptoms one year later.

However, the increase in depressive symptoms did not predict greater subsequent social media use.

Although the study did not determine exactly why this relationship occurs, the researchers noted that cyberbullying and sleep disorders could be important factors in the development of various depressive symptoms.

Previous work by the same team, with the same participants, revealed that children who had experienced cyberbullying between the ages of 11 and 12 were 2.62 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts during the following year.

This same group of minors also showed a greater tendency to experiment with substances.

They were 4.65 times more likely to use marijuana, 3.37 times more likely to use nicotine, and 1.92 times more likely to use alcohol. “As a parent, I know it's not enough to tell kids to put down their cell phones,” Nagata said, quoted by the University of San Francisco. “We can lead by example with open, nonjudgmental conversations about screen use.”

The researcher suggested establishing device-free times, such as during meals or before bed, as a practical way to encourage healthy digital habits among children, teens, and adults.

Despite the risks noted, the authors also recognized that social media is a fundamental communication and connection tool for young people today.

Nagata and his team emphasized the importance of continuing to research the impact of social media on children's mental health, especially during critical stages of emotional and cognitive development.