Overview
- A longitudinal analysis of more than 25,000 pupils in Greater Manchester found little evidence that increases in an individual teen’s social media use or gaming predict later internalizing symptoms.
- The #BeeWell study separated within-person from between-person effects and reported that the apparent link between digital use and later low mood largely vanished under this approach.
- A separate JAMA Pediatrics cohort of over 100,000 Australian students reported a 'Goldilocks' pattern in which moderate social media use under two hours a day aligned with the highest overall wellbeing.
- The Australian findings varied by subgroup, with younger girls faring better off platforms, older girls showing benefits from moderate use, and older boys reporting lower wellbeing when completely abstaining.
- Both research teams cite measurement limits and advise moving beyond hours-based limits or under‑16 bans toward policies that support balanced, purposeful digital engagement and broader risk-factor support.