Social media use is associated with higher rates of depression in adolescents.

the verdict

INSUFFICIENT LEANING

Recorded sources

6 sources for · 0 against

Counts group repeated records of the same source within each side. They do not measure evidence strength or source independence.

Is it true that social media use is associated with higher rates of depression in adolescents?

Unclear. Several studies report an association between social media use and higher depression or depressive symptoms in adolescents, but each covers only a single population or a specific pattern of use, and one large UK study finds the link depends on motives, with social-recreational use associated with lower symptoms. No retrieved item settles the general claim across adolescents.

Verdict: PARTIAL LEAN · 6 sources for, 0 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Evidence for · 6

Social media and suicide

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Social media and suicide. (n.d.). en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media_and_suicide

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More for · 5

Social media use and depression in adolescents: a scoping review -

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Social media use and depression in adolescents: a scoping review - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2020.1720623

Motives of social media use are differentially associated with mental health outcomes in adolescents

2026

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Motives of social media use are differentially associated with mental health outcomes in adolescents. (2026). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/jfs79_v1

#Sleepyteens: Social media use in adolescence is associated with poor sleep quality, anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.

2016

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HC, W. & H, S. (2016). #Sleepyteens: Social media use in adolescence is associated with poor sleep quality, anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2016.05.008

A consensus statement on potential negative impacts of smartphone and social media use on adolescent mental health

2025

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Valerio, C. (2025). A consensus statement on potential negative impacts of smartphone and social media use on adolescent mental health. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5256747

Replication Study of Social Media Usage Patterns and Their Impact on Mental Health in Nigerian Adolescents, 2006 Context

2006

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Nkem, C., Osita, O., & Chinedu, E. (2006). Replication Study of Social Media Usage Patterns and Their Impact on Mental Health in Nigerian Adolescents, 2006 Context. zenodo.org. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18828106

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