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Over-Connected Kids: Is Digital Life Making Young People Sick?
More young people are online than ever before. From social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to online gaming and instant messaging, digital access offers young people a way to stay connected around the clock.
While digital access is a necessity in today’s world, recent research reveals that this constant connection and online activity may have severe consequences for young people’s mental health.
Digital Connection and Mental Health
A recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that problematic social media use1 among young people has risen from 7% in 2018 to 11% in 2022.
The report highlights how young people are struggling to control their social media use, displaying unhealthy behaviour patterns (such as inability to limit screen time, neglecting daily activities, experiencing withdrawal, etc. ) that can lead to negative consequences such as poor mental well-being.
One study, which examined addictive screen use and mental health2, suicidal behaviours, and suicidal ideation in US adolescents, found that one-third of participants displayed addictive social media or mobile phone use from the age of 11.
The study revealed that children with video game addiction displayed poor mental health symptoms such as anxiety and depression, and social media usage was associated with aggressive behaviours. Even more concerning, participants who became increasingly addicted to screen use over the four-year study period were more than twice as likely to report suicidal thoughts compared to children who used them less.
Dr. Amy Orben, programme leader track scientist at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit at the University of Cambridge, highlighted that the study suggests poor mental health in young people is not directly linked to the amount of time they spend using technologies like social media.
“Instead, those who increasingly feel they use technologies compulsively, use them to avoid their problems, or feel their use is harming their lives are more likely to report mental health issues or suicidal thoughts later on,” said Orben.
However, Orben cautions that the study cannot prove that problematic technology use causes these problems.
“It could be that other unmeasured factors, such as young people’s ability to self-control, are the root cause for both higher reported problems with technology use and lower mental health,” said Orben.
“Yet the study importantly highlights why and how young people use technologies, and how they feel technologies affect their lives, may matter more to their mental health than the time spent online.
“As those reporting such issues are not a small proportion of the population, supporting them should be taken seriously.”
Professor Lisa Henderson, head of psychology at the University of York, said the study’s findings are alarming, particularly that one in two participants had a high addictive use trajectory for video games, one in three for social media, and one in four for mobile phone use.
“We also need to determine the neurobiological and psychological mechanisms that underlie the relationships between addictive use and mental health outcomes,” said Henderson. “For example, converging evidence suggests that sleep disturbance may be a mediating mechanism here.”
Of note, the study didn’t directly explore the two-way relationship, where young people who are already vulnerable to mental health issues may be more likely to engage in digital activities like gaming and social media, which could contribute to a further decline in their mental health.
Boys and Girls Experience Digital Problems Differently
Dr. Debra Kissen, clinical psychologist and the CEO and founder of Light On Anxiety CBT Treatment Centers, says she sees many young people in her clinic who are struggling with conditions such as anxiety associated with their screen use.
Kissen points out gender differences, noting that boys and girls experience different problems in relation to their social media use.
“For girls, the unhealthy side often comes from social comparisons,” says Kissen.
“A lot of it is very one-sided. They might not even post; they just scroll, seeing everyone else’s “fabulous” lives. That constant observation can be really damaging.
“Another issue is the fear of missing out. It’s not just influencers; it’s seeing your own friends meet up without you, or being left out of group chats. For a teenager, that can feel devastating.”
Study participants who became increasingly addicted to screen use were more than twice as likely to report suicidal thoughts.
For boys, Kissen says the issues can sometimes cross into cyberbullying: group chats where cruel comments are made or inappropriate images are shared.
“For another group of boys, the problem is isolation,” explains Kissen.
“Instead of finding real-life communities, they can get drawn into online worlds that reinforce disconnection, sometimes in worrying ways.”
Kissen highlights that some teens don’t see their behavior as a problem, so getting them to therapy can be hard.
“But when someone does engage, often because they’ve hit “rock bottom” with depression, anxiety, or disordered eating, we can work with that,” says Kissen.
“Rather than telling them to get off social media, which rarely works, we do things like tracking their pain points. When did they feel at their worst this week? What happened before and after?
Bans or restrictions don’t always solve the underlying problem. We need to help young people find alternatives that give them joy and connection.
“That kind of reflection helps them see for themselves the links between their digital habits and their mood.”
While young people are suffering mental health problems associated with problematic use of technology and social media, Kissen says that this use is also straining family relationships and causing conflict.
“It’s about guiding them towards their own insights, rather than lecturing. If they notice, ‘I felt amazing when I did a ceramics class with my friend,’ that lived experience carries far more weight than an adult simply saying that screens are bad,” says Kissen.
Interventions, Solutions, Digital Detox
To tackle this growing problem, numerous solutions and interventions have been put forward to help support young people in reducing their screen time and improving their mental health symptoms.
One paper investigated reduced screen time3 over three weeks and found that participants felt less depressed, had better sleep, and better overall well-being compared to those who did not reduce their screen time.
Another study found that reducing screen time and focusing on physical activity were associated with fewer mental health problems.
The WHO report4 suggests that interventions should be targeted and age-appropriate.
The report offers an action roadmap that includes embedding digital literacy into education, enhancing mental health services, promoting open dialogue about digital well-being within families, schools, and communities to reduce stigma and increase awareness, and training educators and healthcare providers.
It further suggests enforcing accountability for social media platforms, ensuring they enforce age restrictions, and creating a regulatory framework that encourages the responsible design of digital tools for young users.
Australia has taken serious action when it comes to digital usage by young people — banning social media for anyone under 16, a law effective from December 2025.
While the ban received public backing, with around 77% of people supporting it, experts have warned that banning access to social media may make matters worse.
Kissen says bans are not the solution, as young people can often get around restrictions by creating fake accounts.
“Telling a teenager they can’t do something often makes them want it more — it’s the “forbidden fruit” effect,” says Kissen.
“Bans risk fueling more conflict at home rather than solving the underlying problem. We need to help young people find alternatives that give them joy and connection, whether that’s sports, creativity, or spending time with friends offline.
“Parents also need support to model healthier habits themselves. We should treat digital access like food. We talk about healthy relationships with food. We need the same approach for technology: how to use it wisely, when to indulge, and when to step away.”
Expert Board Member
Learn about an increasingly imperative public‑health concern: the impact of technology and digital life on young people’s mental health. This article explores the latest research and speaks with experts to understand the nuances of problematic technology and social media use, and its association with negative mental health outcomes.
Netherlands 
London, United Kingdom 
