Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
In January, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, faced congressional questioning regarding social media's impact on children's mental health, asserting a lack of causal link despite mounting evidence suggesting otherwise.
According to American magazine, Science News, recent studies indicate a causal relationship between teenage social media usage and diminished well-being, particularly concerning depression and anxiety.
A study led by MIT economist Alexey Makarin demonstrated a clear connection between Facebook's introduction to college campuses and increased symptoms of depression and anxiety among students.
Surveys reveal nearly ubiquitous social media usage among teens aged 13 to 17, with platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat being extensively utilized, indicating a widespread exposure to potential mental health impacts.
Studies suggest that teenage girls, in particular, spend significant time on social media platforms, with higher rates of depression compared to boys, prompting further investigation into gender-specific effects.
Amid concerns over correlational findings, researchers are increasingly conducting rigorous longitudinal studies to establish causation between social media use and mental health issues, recognizing the need for methodological precision.
Studies employing natural or quasi-experiments are crucial in pinpointing cause and effect relationships, as demonstrated by Makarin's research utilizing the staggered rollout of Facebook on college campuses.
The evolution of social media platforms towards optimization for user engagement raises concerns about exacerbating negative mental health impacts, necessitating updated research methodologies to account for contemporary usage patterns.
Researchers emphasize the need for nuanced approaches to understand how and why social media influences mental health, advocating for qualitative research alongside quantitative analysis to uncover underlying mechanisms.