Possible Connection Between Social Media and Depression Amongst Youth
Yes, social media could be making your kids depressed, study finds
Author: Sharon Kirky
Date published: May 29, 2025
The fine lines between depression and social media
The well-known medical journal known as the JAMA Network Open recently published an entry claiming that the increased use of social media by kids is leading to a spike in depression diagnosis. Experts conducted a trial that monitored "nearly 12,000 children found the more time nine-and 10-year-olds spend engaged with social media, the more depressive symptoms they have a year or two later", highlighting the negative effects an online presence has on the youth. Although, the evidence doesn't directly explain why this is happening to kids, it still raises concern for prolonged exposure to the negative aspects of the internet. Dr. Nagata shares valuable things to do as a family to promote a healthier relationship with your devices by designating "screen free times", which include mealtimes and other occasions where you should be relaxing and diverting your focus somewhere other than online. This can be a wakeup call for the whole family including parents to limit their screen time.
This study is quite concerning because social media is such a prominent thing today which is easily accessible to all ages even younger school aged children. With mental health concerns rising due to many different reasons; social media should be the first to be better regulated and have a stronger age restriction. Young people already have a lot on their plate and social media is adding to it negatively, as proven from the article. Mental health is a serious issue that's talked about a lot but not much is ever done. Parents should be the role models for healthy habits including screen time because children are impressionable and learn from adult figures in their lives. That being said, I do believe that stricter age regulations and limited screen time will decrease the spike in depressive symptoms because kids need to get out and touch grass.
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