A recent study conducted in Finland found that teen girls are spending an average of 5.8 hours a day on their smartphones, with nearly four hours of that time dedicated to social media. This excessive use of smartphones and social media has been linked to poorer health and wellbeing among adolescents. The study included 1,164 female students aged 15 to 16, who provided data on their screen time, social media usage, and self-reported health, mood, tiredness, and loneliness.
The researchers found that around 17% of the teens were possibly addicted to social media, and 37% showed signs of an anxiety disorder. Social media addiction was associated with higher levels of anxiety, poor body image, reduced health, lower mood, increased tiredness, and feelings of loneliness. This study is the first to combine objectively measured smartphone use with validated measures of social media addiction and wellbeing, providing valuable insights into the negative impact of excessive smartphone use on teen girls’ mental health.
The researchers acknowledged some limitations to their study, such as not excluding participants with pre-existing mental health problems, self-reported GPAs, and incomplete phone data. They emphasized the importance of creating tech-free zones for teens and encouraging in-person relationships to help mitigate the negative effects of excessive smartphone use. They also called on policymakers to prioritize safety and health in the development of social media platforms.
The study authors highlighted the importance of addressing the root causes of adolescent anxiety and poor mental health, rather than solely focusing on increased mental health services. They referenced a 2023 advisory from US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy about the effect of social media on youth mental health as an important call to action for addressing the negative impact of excessive smartphone use on adolescents. The study’s findings underscore the need for intervention strategies to reduce social media addiction and promote healthier screen time habits among teens.
