A new longitudinal study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that increased social media use may contribute to the development of depressive symptoms in early adolescents, rather than being a byproduct of existing mental health issues.¹

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, led by Jason M. Nagata, MD, MSc, associate professor in UCSF’s Department of Pediatrics, analyzed data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study to assess whether social media use and depressive symptoms are bidirectionally linked. The prospective cohort included 11,876 children aged 9 to 10 at baseline and followed them annually for 3 years.

Depressive symptoms follow increased social media use

The study used a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model to track within-person changes over time and adjust for stable between-person differences. After controlling for covariates such as sex, race, household income, and parental education, the study found that increases in social media use were associated with later increases in depressive symptoms.

Specifically, using more social media than an individual’s average in year 1 predicted greater depressive symptoms in year 2 (β = 0.07; 95% CI, 0.01–0.12; P = .01), and elevated use in year 2 was associated with increased depressive symptoms in year 3 (β = 0.09; 95% CI, 0.04–0.14; P < .001). However, depressive symptoms at earlier time points were not linked to subsequent increases in social media use, suggesting a unidirectional association.

“These findings provide evidence that social media may be contributing to the development of depressive symptoms,” said Nagata in a press release from UCSF.²

Adolescents’ daily screen time grew steadily

The study observed a marked increase in time spent on social media, from a mean of 7 minutes per day at baseline to 73 minutes daily by year 3. Concurrently, the mean score for depressive symptoms, measured using the Child Behavior Checklist, increased by 35%.

“This study is among the first to use within-person longitudinal data,” Nagata stated. “This allowed us to track changes over time in each child and more accurately assess how social media use may influence mental health.”

Cyberbullying and substance use risks

In a related publication by the same research group in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, the team evaluated cyberbullying and its outcomes in the same cohort. They found that children aged 11 to 12 who were cyberbullied were 2.62 times more likely to report suicidal ideation or suicide attempts 1 year later. These children were also more likely to experiment with substances—4.65 times more likely with marijuana, 3.37 with nicotine, and 1.92 with alcohol.

Clinical implications and parental guidance

The findings emphasize the need for clinicians to provide anticipatory guidance on social media use during early adolescence. According to Nagata, open, nonjudgmental conversations and family-based media plans can support healthier digital habits.

“As a father of 2 young kids, I know that simply telling children to ‘get off your phone’ doesn’t really work,” he said. “Parents can lead by example. Setting screen-free times for the whole family, such as during meals or before bed, can help build healthier digital habits for everyone, including adults.”

The study concludes that early adolescence may be a critical period for interventions aimed at minimizing digital risks while promoting safe social media engagement. Further research is recommended to investigate the mechanisms linking social media use to mental health outcomes.

References:

1. Nagata JM, Otmar CD, Shim J, et al. Social Media Use and Depressive Symptoms During Early Adolescence. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(5):e2511704. Published 2025 May 1. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.11704

2. University of California - San Francisco. Yes, social media might be making kids depressed. Eurkealrt. May 21, 2025. Accessed May 21, 2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1084461?