A landmark study from the University of Manchester has found little evidence to support the widespread belief that social media and video games are directly causing mental health problems in young teenagers.
Tracking Teen Habits and Wellbeing
The research, published in the Journal of Public Health, followed a cohort of 25,000 young people aged 11 to 14 across three consecutive school years. The participants were part of the #BeeWell programme, which focuses on understanding and improving youth wellbeing.
Pupils regularly self-reported their social media habits, gaming frequency, and emotional difficulties. Analysing this data, the researchers concluded there was no significant evidence that heavier use of platforms like Instagram or Snapchat, or more frequent gaming, led to increases in symptoms of anxiety or depression in the following year. This pattern held true for both boys and girls.
A More Complex Picture Emerges
Co-author Professor Neil Humphrey explained the findings suggest a different dynamic. "Our findings tell us that young people’s choices around social media and gaming may be shaped by how they’re feeling, but not necessarily the other way around," he stated.
Lead author Dr Qiqi Cheng reinforced this, saying: "We know families are worried, but our results do not support the idea that simply spending time on social media or gaming leads to mental health problems - the story is far more complex than that."
The study did uncover some behavioural shifts: girls who gamed more often later spent slightly less time on social media, while boys reporting more emotional difficulties were more likely to reduce their gaming. Researchers theorise this could be due to losing interest in hobbies when feeling low or parents limiting screen time in response to a child's struggles.
Beyond Simple Screen Time Limits
The team also investigated whether active participation (like chatting) versus passive scrolling on social media made a difference, but the overall conclusion remained unchanged. Technology habits alone did not appear to be a primary driver of mental health difficulties.
However, the authors were careful to note this does not mean the online world is risk-free. They emphasised that hurtful messages, online pressures, and exposure to extreme content can still significantly impact a young person's wellbeing.
The key takeaway, according to the researchers, is that public policy and parental concern should move beyond simplistic screen time metrics. "Rather than blaming technology itself," Professor Humphrey argued, "we need to pay attention to what young people are doing online, who they’re connecting with and how supported they feel in their daily lives."
