Many children use social media every day. In the U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory, up to 95% of teens aged 13 to 17 said they use a social media platform. Because of this, researchers are asking a very important question: how does social media affect a child’s mind? New studies from 2025 and 2026 give us a clearer picture. (hhs.gov)
In March 2026, JAMA Pediatrics published a very large review of 153 long-term studies. The researchers looked at children and teens over time, not just at one moment. They found small but steady links between social media use and poorer mental health and development. Social media use was linked with more depression, more behavior problems, more self-harm thoughts, and more alcohol or drug use. It was also linked with poorer self-image and lower school achievement. The study did not prove cause and effect, but social media showed the strongest harmful links among the digital media types in the review. (jamanetwork.com)
Another important study, published in JAMA Network Open in May 2025, followed 11,876 children in the United States from ages 9 to 12. It found that when a child’s social media use increased, depressive symptoms often increased in the following year. But the opposite pattern was not clearly found. In other words, more sadness did not strongly predict more social media use later. This suggests that increasing social media use may come first for some children, especially in early adolescence. (openurl.ebsco.com)
Still, experts do not say that all social media is bad. It can help young people feel connected and express themselves. But officials say families should focus on healthy habits, not only on counting screen hours. The Surgeon General says we still cannot conclude that social media is safe for children and teens. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends making a family media plan, having screen-free times like meals and before bed, and turning off autoplay and notifications. Small changes like these can support better sleep, better mood, and more real face-to-face time. (hhs.gov)










