Social media is being used as something of a “scapegoat” for mental health issues in young people and isn’t what is making them feel depressed, anxious and driven to self-harm, says one of Australia’s leading medical research organisations. As the nation moves towards bans to protect under 16s from the harmful effects of online interaction, a new study by the Black Dog Institute indicates the link between platforms and headspace is relatively weak. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Thursday a minimum age limit for social media access, telling parents “we have your back” .
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today However the institute’s research indicates that although social media is a “fertile ground for disseminating harmful content”, evidence shows the parallel rise in its use and that of youth mental health problems does not imply a causal relationship. The study found the impact of social media on youth was less than universal, lacking in the results of longitudinal research and meta-analyses and unable to explain a disproportionate rise in self-harm in young women. Furthermore, restricting access to socials may also restrict access to support and information for young people experiencing problems.
“If you ask young people why they are anxious or depressed, they don’t say ‘because of social media’, they say ‘it’s because my interpersonal relationship is not very good with my friends, I’ve lost my boyfriend, I’m really .
