A new study has challenged the fear of screen time, as it may not be as bad as many people think.
The study, conducted by the University of Manchester, found no link between excessive use of social media or more frequent gaming and increased symptoms of anxiety or depression over the following year.
The researchers believe that these findings challenge the widespread assumption that excessive screen time on these digital technologies is inherently harmful and highlight the need for more nuanced perspectives that highlight the need for approaches that take context and personal choice into account.
Qiqi Cheng, the study’s lead author, said: “We know families are concerned, but our findings do not support the idea that simply spending time on social media or gaming leads to mental health problems – the story is far more complex than that.”
The survey that appeared in the Journal of Public Healthexamined data from 25,000 students aged between 11 and 14 over three consecutive academic years.
The research collected data on their social media use, gaming patterns and symptoms of depression such as anxiety and emotional lows.
The researchers analyzed the differences between active and passive use of social media, and what emerged was surprising.
The study found that the overall effect remains the same in both scenarios, regardless of whether a child becomes addicted to active rolling or doom.
In other words, this specific pattern of social media use did not appear to be the only factor influencing mental health challenges.
The study further notes that research often overestimates the risks of using social media while underexploring the benefits, such as fostering connections, sharing life experiences and therefore enabling self-expression that helps build confidence.
