Early Social Media Use Linked to Mental Health Challenges in Gen Z, Study Finds
A new study reveals a concerning link between early social media adoption and increased mental health risks in adolescents, particularly among girls, with interpersonal distrust emerging as a key factor.
A groundbreaking new study from University College London (UCL) has revealed a complex relationship between social media use in early adolescence and a range of mental health challenges that can persist for years. Published in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, the research highlights how seemingly small changes – like delayed bedtimes and negative self-perception – can contribute to a heightened risk of depression, anxiety, and even suicidal behaviors later in life.
The Long Shadow of Early Social Media
The study, based on data from the UK’s Millennium Cohort Study, tracked approximately 19,000 children born between 2000 and 2001 – a generation now known as Gen Z. Researchers examined social media habits beginning around age 11, and then monitored participants’ mental wellbeing at age 17. The findings demonstrate that early exposure to platforms like Facebook and Bebo (popular during the study’s initial phase) was indirectly associated with a range of psychiatric symptoms in late adolescence.
Researchers identified three primary mechanisms driving this association. Both boys and girls who began using social media at age 11 reported, on average, slightly later bedtimes by age 14 compared to their peers who did not engage with these platforms. They also exhibited more negative feelings about their physical appearance at the same age. However, the impact was particularly pronounced for girls, who reported significantly increased levels of distrust towards others at age 14.
“These findings suggest that interpersonal distrust was a significant driver of psychiatric symptoms among Gen Z girls who used social media from early adolescence,” explained Dr. Dimitris Tsomokos, lead author of the study from the UCL Institute of Education. “This distrust of others may be a particularly female response to the pressures of social media, which can sadly be fertile ground for social comparison, cyberbullying, and perceived exclusion.”
Why Girls May Be More Vulnerable
The study suggests that girls may be more susceptible to the negative effects of social media due to their heightened empathetic concern and emphasis on reciprocal relationships. This makes them potentially more vulnerable to feelings of betrayal or exclusion experienced online. As Dr. Tsomokos noted, “We know that teenage girls display more empathetic concern and tend to place higher value on reciprocal relationships, and perhaps this is what drives greater distrust among them.”
The researchers emphasized that these relationships remained significant even after accounting for factors like socioeconomic status, maternal mental health, and pre-existing mental health challenges in the children at age 7. This suggests that early social media use has an independent impact on adolescent mental wellbeing.
Implications for Parents and Policymakers
The study’s authors advocate for increased intervention during early adolescence, focusing on building trust and fostering a sense of social safety. They believe that proactive measures can help mitigate the potential negative consequences of social media use on young people’s long-term mental health.
As parents and policymakers continue to navigate the complexities of technology in childhood, this research underscores the importance of open communication, responsible online behavior, and a focus on cultivating healthy relationships both online and offline. The findings serve as a critical reminder that the digital world, while offering many benefits, can also pose significant risks to the developing minds of young people.
