Study links increased social media use to higher depression risk in pre-teens

A recent study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that pre-teens who spend more time on social media are more likely to develop symptoms of depression as they grow older.
According to the findings, depressive symptoms in children increased by 35% as their average daily social media use rose from 7 minutes to 73 minutes over a three-year period.

The study, cited by U.S. News & World Report, followed nearly 12,000 children as part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, the largest long-term research project on brain development and child health in the United States.

Interestingly, while increased social media use was linked to rising depression symptoms, the reverse wasn’t true — children who were already experiencing depression did not necessarily use social media more.

“There has been an ongoing debate about whether social media contributes to depression or simply reflects underlying depressive symptoms,” said Dr. Jason Nagata, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, and the study’s lead author. “These findings provide evidence that social media may contribute to the development of depressive symptoms.”

The researchers tracked children’s social media usage and mental health at ages 9–10, then again at 12–13. They observed a steady rise in screen time and corresponding increases in reported depression symptoms.

Although the study did not pinpoint the exact causes, the research team noted that factors such as cyberbullying and disrupted sleep patterns—issues commonly linked to social media use—may help explain the connection.

The findings highlight a troubling dilemma for younger generations: while social media remains a central way to stay connected with peers and family, it also appears to carry significant mental health risks.