JAMA Netw Open

Does social media use drive depression in youth, or vice versa?

May 22, 2025

Study details: This prospective cohort study analyzed data from 11,876 children aged 9 to 10 years at baseline (2016-2018), drawn from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study across 21 U.S. sites. Participants were evaluated at four time points—baseline, and annually for three years through 2022—with self-reported social media use and depressive symptoms (via the Child Behavior Checklist) assessed at each wave. Cross-lagged structural equation modeling was used to examine reciprocal associations, adjusting for demographic and family-level covariates.

Results: Within-person increases in social media use were significantly associated with elevated depressive symptoms from year 1 to year 2 (β = 0.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01-0.12; P = .01) and year 2 to year 3 (β = 0.09; 95% CI, 0.04-0.14; P < .001). However, depressive symptoms didn’t predict subsequent increases in social media use. Between-person differences in average use weren’t associated with depressive symptoms (β, -0.01; 95% CI, -0.04 to 0.02; P = .46) after adjusting for covariates.

Clinical impact: Elevated social media use during years 1 and 2 was associated with increased depressive symptoms in the following year. These findings support the integration of anticipatory guidance on digital habits into routine pediatric care, empowering families to cultivate healthier online behaviors during this formative stage.

Source:

Nagata JM, et al. (2025, May 1). JAMA Netw Open. Social Media Use and Depressive Symptoms During Early Adolescence. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40397441/