Mexican IMSS warns screen overuse harms teen mental health

The Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) says that excessive use of screens and social media is increasingly linked to anxiety, low self‑esteem, depressive symptoms and exposure to risky viral challenges among Mexican adolescents. Specialist Guillermo Méndez Patiño explained that the constant need for online approval intensifies emotional pressure during a vulnerable developmental stage.

Data from the 2022 National Health and Nutrition Survey show that 31.1% of adolescents reported at least one depressive symptom, 7.1% reported two or more, and 24.8% experienced sleep difficulties. IMSS urges parents and caregivers to watch for signs such as persistent sadness, irritability, social withdrawal, academic decline and disrupted sleep, and to seek help at family medicine units. The institute also promotes setting healthy screen limits, encouraging physical and social activities, and fostering critical thinking about online content.