If someone you know is struggling, it’s important to reach out to a crisis line or hotline.
A recent study suggests a link between addiction to social media, mobile phones, and video games, and an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
This study, published in JAMA, analyzed data from over 4,000 children who were tracked over several years, beginning at ages 9 to 10. By age 14, roughly one-third reported escalating addiction to social media, about 25% to their mobile devices, and more than 40% showed signs of being overly attached to video games.
“Those young people are significantly more likely to express suicidal thoughts and behaviors,” states the study’s author, Yunyu Xiao from Weill Cornell Medicine.
The findings come from a large-scale longitudinal study known as the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. This comprehensive research has been following countless children and measuring their screen time and addiction behaviors over the years.
They assessed addiction using a standard questionnaire, asking statements like, “I spend a lot of time thinking about social media,” and “I feel stressed if I can’t access my social media.” The research revealed about 60% had stable low levels of social media addiction, while roughly a tenth had increasing addiction, peaking in the middle years of the study.
For mobile phone use, around half exhibited significant addiction, and a quarter had rising addiction levels, whereas video game use showed a divergence, with about 60% maintaining low addiction levels and 41% being highly addicted throughout.
The researchers also explored suicidal ideation and behaviors. They found that nearly 18% of participants reported suicidal thoughts, with 5% engaging in suicidal behaviors such as planning or attempting suicide. Those with high levels of addiction to mobile devices and social media were more susceptible to these thoughts and behaviors, whereas total screen time did not correlate with a higher suicide risk.
Experts emphasize that it’s not merely the amount of time spent on screens but the nature of that usage that matters. Dr. Jason Nagata from the University of California, San Francisco, mentioned, “This study adds complexity to the conversation about screen addiction.” He noted that addiction-related behaviors can be stronger predictors of poor mental health than sheer screen time.
While many of us receive notifications about our weekly screen time, Nagata argues that this metric can be misleading without context. His colleague, Dr. Mitch Prinstein, added that understanding the specifics of how teens engage with technology is vital, especially in distinguishing between beneficial and harmful activities.
“Some may use screens for productive tasks or meaningful connections, while others may resort to avoiding real-life problems,” Prinstein pointed out.
Avoiding reality can signal deeper issues, as highlighted in the study’s addiction questionnaire with statements like, “I play video games to escape my problems.” Alvord emphasized the significance of recognizing these patterns, as avoidance is often a symptom of anxiety or depression.
As the research delves into the details, it becomes evident that certain behaviors tied to screen use warrant attention. For instance, the ABCD study found troubling trends in adolescent behavior: many young users reported losing track of their phone usage or using social media as an escape from their issues.
By around ages 12-13, around 25% admitted they used social media to forget their problems, and the duration spent on social media jumped from an average of 7 minutes daily at the beginning of the study to over 70 minutes four years later. Furthermore, longer social media engagement corresponded with increased depressive symptoms. This underscores the need for vigilance among parents, educators, and clinicians concerning signs of screen addiction that may elevate risks of depression or suicide.
