Social media usage linked to rising depression and anxiety

Research indicates a significant link between increased social media usage and deteriorating mental health, particularly among adolescents. A study involving 183,000 Americans over eleven years, published in NPJ Mental Health Research, found that self-reported depression rose from 15% to 22% in the general population and from 15% to 25% among those aged 18 to 25 between 2014 and 2024.

In Canada, a large-scale study involving tens of thousands of adolescents across provinces such as Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia suggests that excessive time on social platforms contributes to feelings of anxiety, depression, and isolation. Researchers, including Professor Anne-Marie Turcotte-Tremblay from Université Laval, examined how these mental health associations might vary based on gender identity.

Beyond clinical studies, social media usage has become a pervasive societal habit. In some regions, daily usage averages nearly three hours, leading to concerns regarding fragmented attention, disrupted sleep patterns, and a decline in the quality of interpersonal interactions.