Growing Up Online: New Research on Teens, Social Media & Mental Health

According to SHAHEDNEWS, Growing concerns about the impact of smartphone and social media use on teenagers’ mental health have made new research from Australia particularly significant.

A study involving 365 Australian adolescents between the ages of 10 and 15, along with one of their parents, found that teenagers who started using social media at a younger age were more likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression. By comparison, simply having a social media account appeared to have a weaker connection with these symptoms. The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

The research was conducted during the six weeks leading up to Australia’s social media restrictions, which came into effect in December 2025. Participants were asked whether they had ever used social media, how old they were when they first began using it, and whether they currently had an account. Researchers also assessed the participants for symptoms associated with anxiety and depression.

Around 70% of the young people surveyed said they had used social media, while approximately half already had an account. The average age at which they first began using social media was 11.

Associate Professor Susanne Schweizer, the study’s lead investigator, said one of the most striking findings was that the age at which children first encountered social media appeared to be more closely linked to their mental health than simply having an account.

According to Schweizer, postponing children’s first exposure to social media could be a potentially useful policy approach, particularly if the additional time is used to teach young people healthy digital habits and responsible online behaviour.

Social Media, Anxiety and Depression

Australia introduced its social media restrictions amid growing concerns about anxiety and depression among young people, alongside increasing levels of social media use.

Anna Bilston, the study’s lead author and a UNSW PhD candidate, says governments may need to take a broader approach if they want to reduce potential risks to young people’s mental health.

Rather than focusing solely on whether teenagers can access social media, Bilston argues that policymakers should also consider how early young people begin using these platforms.

The research represents the first published findings from a larger Australian study examining young people’s mental health and wellbeing before and after the introduction of the social media restrictions.

The researchers emphasize that protecting teenagers’ mental health will likely require more than simply limiting access to social media. Parents and educators can also play an important role by helping young people develop healthier digital habits and, where appropriate, delaying their introduction to social media.

Participants will continue to be monitored over the coming year. Researchers hope to determine whether the new restrictions lead to changes in young people’s behaviour, attitudes, mental health and exposure to online harms.

Schweizer says the study provides a rare opportunity to examine what happens when a policy of this scale is introduced. Following the same young people over time, she says, will help researchers determine whether the restrictions benefit teenagers and identify areas where the policy could be improved.