Intensive Social Media Use Linked to Depression in Teenagers, Australian Study Finds

A decade-long Australian study has found that teenagers who use social media for two hours or more each day face a higher risk of depression and poorer wellbeing, especially during early adolescence. The study, led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), found that higher social media use among 12- to 18-year-olds was linked to a small but real increase in mental health problems one year later, underscoring the need to limit excessive device time. Published in the Medical Journal of Australia, the research tracked almost 1,200 participants in Melbourne aged 9 to 19, collecting annual data before Australia’s 2025 ban on social media access for children under 16. The data included measures of social media use, depression, anxiety, wellbeing, and self-harm. Researchers said high levels of mental health problems, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful online content linked to social media use have sparked widespread concern. The most pronounced effects were seen in girls aged 12 to 13, though increases were observed for both sexes. While the individual risk increase was small, the researchers noted it could have a significant effect at the population level. The findings highlight early adolescence as a critical period for intervention, said lead author Nandi Vijayakumar, a senior research fellow at MCRI and Deakin University. MCRI Professor Susan Sawyer, a co-author, said the results confirm the need for age-appropriate restrictions, better digital literacy programmes, and clearer parental guidelines to reduce mental health risks. Previous MCRI research found that nearly three-quarters of Australian teenagers experience clinically significant depression or anxiety, underscoring the need for broader prevention beyond clinical care.