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A New Study Strengthens the Case That Social Media Use Fuels Depression
Researchers suggest anything over two hours per day may be too much
It’s a classic chicken-or-egg conundrum.
Research has linked heavy social media use with an elevated risk for depression. But experts have disagreed — and occasionally called one another out — over whether a heavy social media habit contributes to depression or if people who are depressed simply gravitate toward heavy social media use.
The findings of a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine will provide ammo for the “social media is harmful” camp.
The study team recruited more than 1,300 people between the ages of 18 and 30 and screened them for depression. The researchers also collected information on each person’s daily social media use as well as information on race, sex, income, relationship status, adverse childhood experiences, and other socioeconomic factors associated with the development of depression.
“The association between social media use and depression was very strong, and it was strong any way you sliced it.”
