Teen Social Media Use Linked to Depression, Anxiety and Cyberbullying: Study

Study suggests that seeing carefully curated images of others’ lives on social media may fuel self-doubt and negative thought patterns among teenagers.

A new study highlights how social media may affect teenagers’ mental health, finding that frequent exposure to online harassment and pressure to compare themselves with others was associated with higher levels of psychological distress.

The findings were published in the journal Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health last month, indicating that the nature of social media experiences may be more important than overall usage time when examining mental health concerns.

Researchers identified social comparison as the strongest statistical predictor of depression, generalized anxiety and social anxiety symptoms among more than 4,000 adolescents.

Social Media Risks

Social media has become a central part of daily life for children and teenagers, raising growing concerns about how platform features designed to maximize user engagement may negatively affect their mental health.

Meta, Google and other technology companies face allegations that they deliberately designed their platforms with addictive features, including endless scrolling, autoplay, push notifications and personalized recommendation algorithms. Critics argue these features encourage prolonged use while repeatedly exposing young users to unrealistic portrayals of others’ lives, unhealthy social comparisons, cyberbullying and other potentially harmful content.

These concerns are at the center of thousands of social media addiction lawsuits filed by families, school districts and government entities nationwide. The complaints allege that technology companies prioritized user engagement and profits over children’s safety, contributing to rising rates of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm and other mental health problems among young users.

States and school districts also allege that the resulting mental health problems have placed a growing burden on public resources, increasing the need for counseling, academic support and other services to help children struggling with the alleged effects of social media addiction.

Social Media Mental Health Study

The study, led by Geir Scott Brunborg, involved 4,011 adolescents from 21 schools in Norway who were surveyed during fall 2025. Researchers examined five aspects of social media use to determine how different online experiences were associated with symptoms of depression, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).

The findings identified social comparison as the strongest predictor of depression and anxiety symptoms among the social media experiences examined, accounting for approximately 20% to 26% of the statistical variation in reported symptoms.

Negative interactions with other users, including cyberbullying, harassment and hostility, were the second strongest factor, explaining approximately 3% to 6% of the variation in mental health symptoms. In contrast, using social media to pass time or seek emotional support showed relatively weak independent associations with the mental health conditions studied.

Researchers suggest that repeatedly viewing idealized images of other people’s appearances, relationships and accomplishments may lead teenagers to make unfavorable comparisons about their own lives, potentially contributing to feelings of inadequacy, depression and anxiety.

Similarly, exposure to cyberbullying, harassment and other hostile online interactions may damage peer relationships, undermine self-esteem and contribute to emotional distress.

“Not all aspects of social media use are equally relevant to adolescent mental health. Social comparison and exposure to hostility from others show the strongest associations with mental health symptoms, particularly internalizing conditions.”

— Geir Scott Brunborg, Specific aspects of social media use and their associations with symptoms of five mental disorders among adolescents

Researchers suggest that efforts to protect teenagers’ mental health should go beyond limiting screen time and address the types of content and interactions young users encounter, particularly those that encourage unhealthy social comparisons or expose them to online harassment.

However, the researchers caution that the findings do not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship. It remains unclear whether negative social media experiences contribute to mental health problems or whether teenagers already struggling with depression and anxiety are more likely to engage in harmful social comparisons.

Social Media Addiction Lawsuits

The study comes amid ongoing social media addiction litigation involving children and teenagers, with families alleging that addictive platform features encourage excessive use and contribute to serious mental health problems.

One of the first trials against Meta was expected to begin in June, but the company reached a confidential settlement with the Breathitt County School District before opening statements. A separate agreement was reached on the eve of another trial between Meta, Snap and two individuals last week, making that trial unnecessary as well.

In August, Meta also reached a proposed $17 billion settlement with a bipartisan group of 51 attorneys general. The agreement calls for additional safeguards for children using Facebook and Instagram and would establish a settlement framework that other social media companies could potentially join.

Meanwhile, juries have returned substantial verdicts in several early social media trials. In March, a California jury awarded $6 million to a woman who claimed she developed depression and anxiety after becoming addicted to social media as a child, finding Meta and Google liable for her injuries.

Days earlier, a New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million in a separate case involving allegations that the company exposed young users to addictive features and mental health risks.

Although the early verdicts are not binding on other cases, they may influence future settlement negotiations by showing how juries respond to the allegations and the damages they are willing to award.

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