Researchers at UTHealth Houston have found that teenagers who spent six or more hours a day on social media were twice as likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and three times as likely to report suicidal ideation as those who spent less than one hour a day on social media. The findings, published in Pediatrics Open Science, were led by Jeff Temple, PhD, professor and associate dean for clinical research at the UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences.
Temple said excessive social media use may affect mental health because young people often compare themselves with the carefully curated lives they see online. Since users typically share only positive moments, adolescents may develop unrealistic expectations and negative self-perceptions. He also suggested that spending so much time online may reduce opportunities for in-person social interactions and other activities that support emotional well-being and help reduce anxiety.
At the same time, Temple noted that the relationship may work in both directions. Young people who are already experiencing anxiety or depression may turn to social media as a way to escape or cope with their emotions. This highlights the complexity of the relationship between social media use and mental health, making it difficult to determine whether one directly causes the other.
Unlike many earlier studies that focused on high school or college students before the rise of newer platforms such as TikTok, this research followed a group of emerging adults over several years. The study analysed annual survey data collected between 2018 and 2025 from 1,066 participants who were, on average, 12 years old when the research began. Participants self-reported the amount of time they spent on social media each day.
Among the participants, 8.5% reported spending less than one hour per day on social media, while more than one-third used it for one to three hours daily. Slightly more than 17% reported using social media for six or more hours each day, with girls reporting higher levels of use than boys. The association between social media use and anxiety symptoms was also stronger among girls. Researchers measured symptoms of depression and anxiety using validated assessment tools that asked participants to report how often they experienced symptoms such as poor appetite, trouble sleeping, feeling on edge, or difficulty relaxing during the previous week.
Temple said the findings support concerns expressed by many families about the effects of social media on young people’s mental health. He emphasised that evidence-based research is essential to understand the issue better and guide effective solutions. By identifying who is most affected, when the risks are greatest, and why social media may contribute to poorer mental health, researchers hope to develop strategies that encourage healthier online habits and improve the quality of social media experiences for young people.
More information: Jeff Temple et al, Associations Between Social Media Use and Mental Health in Emerging Adulthood, Pediatrics Open Science. DOI: 10.1542/pedsos.2026-001552
Journal information: Pediatrics Open Science Provided by University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
