by Larry Magid
Numerous articles have been published linking tech use among adolescents with increase rates of depression, suicide and other harms. Back in 2011, an article in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics coined the term “Facebook Depression,” but I was able to refute it based on interviews with the author and her sources. Another highly cited article from the Atlantic, Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation, was also the subject of much scrutiny, including my own analysis from 2018.
But now there is some good news published in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry on the question of whether there is a link between teens use of mobile phones and social media and negative consequences, with the authors finding that “the focus “on negative effects and has been based on weak correlational data.”
The research review, Adolescent mental health in the digital age: facts, fears, and future directions, “synthesized data from three sources: (a) narrative reviews and meta‐analyses conducted between 2014 and 2019, large‐scale preregistered cohort studies and intensive longitudinal and ecological momentary assessment studies” and found that ” technology usage and mental health, show that that associations between time online and internalizing symptoms are often (a) mixed between positive, negative, and null findings, (b) when present, are likely too small to translate into practically or clinically meaningful effects.”
large‐scale preregistered studies have reported a lack of sizable or practically meaningful associations between adolescents’ digital technology usage and well‐being.
The authors acknowledged that there have been increases in suicide (especially among girls) as well as anxiety and depression among youth in certain countries. “When plotted alongside increases in social media usage across this same time period, a powerful narrative has emerged that social media is driving changes in depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviors.” Yet, when they study the data, they found that ” technology usage and mental health, show that that associations between time online and internalizing symptoms are often (a) mixed between positive, negative, and null findings, (b) when present, are likely too small to translate into practically or clinically meaningful effects.”
associations between time online and internalizing symptoms are often (a) mixed between positive, negative, and null findings, (b) when present, are likely too small to translate into practically or clinically meaningful effects.”
Restricting tech use might be ‘ill-advised’
One of the most important observations of the study is that “Policies restricting adolescents’ access to new technologies … may be ill advised if new technologies are being used as a valuable source of social support or are required in order to build digital and interpersonal (digitally mediated) skills for economies of the future.” The authors also argue that “many of the same principles that guide healthy development and inform effective parenting will apply when supporting youth in their online activities and experiences. If this is true, then the good news for parents and policy makers is that existing evidence‐based interventions and strategies may look different but will still be effective in supporting youth in the digital age.”
Additional Links:
There have been several news reports about this study including the New York Times and CNET
Click here to read the full study