As youth depression and suicide rates continue to rise, experts are questioning whether social media is a cause or if it’s simply that kids who are already depressed spend more time online.

A new study from UC San Francisco offers some clarity. Researchers found that increased social media use among preteens was linked to a rise in depressive symptoms. However, the reverse wasn't true developing depressive symptoms didn’t lead to more time on social media.

Over the course of three years, children's average daily social media use jumped from seven to 73 minutes, accompanied by a 35% increase in depressive symptoms. The study, supported by the National Institutes of Health and published in JAMA Network Open, tracked nearly 12,000 children starting at ages 9 to 10, and then followed up when they were 12 to 13. Notably, it’s one of the first studies to use within-person longitudinal data, allowing researchers to monitor individual changes over time to better understand the connection between social media and depression.

“There has been ongoing debate about whether social media contributes to depression or simply mirrors existing mental health issues,” said lead author Jason Nagata, MD, MSc, an associate professor in UCSF’s Department of Pediatrics. “Our findings suggest that social media use may actually play a role in the development of depressive symptoms.”

While the reasons for this link remain uncertain, earlier research highlights potential contributors such as cyberbullying and poor sleep habits. In fact, Nagata's team recently published a related study in The Lancet Regional Health Americas, examining the impact of cyberbullying on the same group of children.

Source: https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2025/05/430011/yes-social-media-might-be-making-kids-depressed