Antonio Rial study: problematic social media triples depression risk for Spanish teens

A UNICEF‑UNISO research project led by psychologist Antonio Rial of the University of Santiago de Compostela surveyed Spanish youths aged 10‑20. The study identified a strong association between problematic use of social media and mental‑health issues, with rates of depression, anxiety and somatization three to four times higher among heavy users. A similar increase was observed for adolescents with problematic video‑gaming habits, and frequent exposure to violent games was linked to a threefold rise in school bullying and cyber‑bullying.

The report also highlighted that about 40% of teens encounter explicit sexual content online, and that parental mobile‑phone use during meals correlates with poorer emotional indicators in children. Rial stresses that the relationship is bidirectional – vulnerable youths are more likely to turn to social media, which in turn can worsen their mental health – and calls for ethical tech design and stronger parental guidance.