Kids on social media more than two hours a day at higher risk of mental illness

A new longitudinal study published in the Medical Journal of Australia indicates that adolescents spending more than two hours daily on social media face a significantly higher risk of developing mental health issues, including depression and poor wellbeing. The research highlights that early adolescents aged 12 to 13 are particularly vulnerable, with risks for symptoms like anxiety and self-harm being roughly twice as high as those for older teenagers. These findings provide critical data for the mental health technology sector as nations like Australia and the United Kingdom implement or consider age-based restrictions and digital duty of care reforms to protect young users.

The study, which tracked 1,195 students in Melbourne from ages 12 to 18, found that heavy social media use—defined as more than two hours per day—is a predictor of mental health struggles one year later. While the overall effect size was described as modest, the impact was most pronounced in the 12-to-13-year-old demographic for both boys and girls. For girls in this age bracket, excessive use was associated with approximately 11 additional cases of high depressive symptoms per 100 adolescents. Researchers Nandi Vijayakumar and Susan M. Sawyer noted that while causation cannot be strictly proven, the statistical accounting for family and individual factors strengthens the link between screen time and subsequent psychological distress.

Beyond the clinical findings, the report details the societal shift following Australia’s December legislation restricting social media access for those under 16. A poll of over 2,000 parents revealed that 59% feel the law empowers them to set stricter household rules, and 39% have adjusted their views on the appropriate age for a first social media account, with 16 being the most commonly endorsed age. This suggests that public health policy is successfully shifting social norms regarding digital consumption. However, the researchers emphasize that age-based bans are not a panacea, as mental health risks like depression persist for users up to age 18, necessitating ongoing support for older adolescents.

For the mental health technology and social media industries, these findings underscore a growing movement toward digital duty of care reforms. The study advocates for holding platforms accountable for algorithms and features that drive compulsive engagement or expose minors to harmful content. As the conversation shifts from whether social media impacts health to how to mitigate specific vulnerabilities, there is an increasing demand for tech-driven solutions in digital literacy and safety education. Industry stakeholders must now navigate a landscape where legislative pressure and clinical evidence are converging to demand safer product architectures and more robust mental health safeguards for young users.