A study from The University of Manchester has found limited evidence that social media use or video gaming cause mental health problems in young teenagers, challenging a widespread concern. This research, published in the Journal of Public Health, is based on the experiences of over 25,000 pupils in Greater Manchester and followed young people aged 11-14 over three school years as part of the #BeeWell programme.
Lead author Dr. Qiqi Cheng stated that the findings do not support the idea that simply spending time on social media or gaming leads to mental health problems, indicating a more complex relationship. The study tracked pupils’ self-reported social media habits, gaming frequency, and emotional difficulties. Researchers found no evidence that heavier social media use or more frequent gaming caused increases in anxiety or depression symptoms in the subsequent year for either boys or girls.
However, the study identified other patterns: girls who gamed more often spent slightly less time on social media the following year, and boys reporting more emotional difficulties were more likely to reduce gaming. Researchers suggested this could be linked to a loss of interest in hobbies during distress or parental limitations on screen time. The research also explored the difference between active chatting and passive scrolling on social media, concluding that technology habits alone did not appear to drive mental health difficulties.
The authors noted that this does not mean online experiences are harmless, as hurtful messages, online pressures, and extreme content can impact wellbeing. They argued that focusing solely on screen time might overlook the broader context of online risks.