Social scientists have raised concerns about the mental health effects of social media and smartphone use, particularly among adolescents. Recent longitudinal studies provide clearer insights by analyzing large representative samples. The first study examined over 1,500 Swiss adolescents, tracking their media use over time. It identified five distinct patterns of screen use and found that higher levels of engagement, particularly with chatting and gaming, correlated with increased risks of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues in early adulthood.
Participants in the trajectory of increasing video game and chatting/surfing exhibited worse mental health outcomes, lending further support to the idea that high and escalating screen use is detrimental.
The first study identified five distinct media use patterns among adolescents: low screen use, increasing chatting/surfing, moderate screen use, early adolescence screen use, and increasing video gaming and chatting/surfing.
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