A new report has warned that social media platforms are “not safe” for teenagers and are harming them at a “massive scale”. The World Happiness Report, published on Thursday, includes analysis from academics at New York University (NYU) who argue that the current “algorithmic” design of platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X makes them “dangerous consumer products”.
The report claims there is “overwhelming evidence” of direct harms like sextortion and cyberbullying, as well as “compelling evidence” of indirect harms such as depression and anxiety. The academics say the rapid adoption of social media by adolescents in the early 2010s substantially contributed to “population-level increases” in mental illness that emerged by the mid-2010s in many Western nations.
The findings come as the UK government considers a social media ban for under-16s. Earlier this month, MPs rejected a blanket ban in favour of giving ministers additional, more flexible powers depending on the outcome of an ongoing consultation.
Previous studies have not found a clear correlation between social media use and mental health problems in teenagers, but research has suggested that “addictive” features can disrupt sleep and mood. The new report draws on seven different studies, including leaked internal reports from platforms, to argue that social media is harming adolescents at a scale large enough to cause population-level changes.
In a separate paper within the report, researchers argue that platform design significantly impacts user happiness, with communication-focused platforms better supporting well-being than those relying on algorithmic content. Meanwhile, a landmark social media addiction trial is underway in the US, where a plaintiff claims her early use of social media exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts.
