Starting social media younger linked to anxiety and depression in teens
The age at which adolescents first start using social media may be more important to their mental health than whether they have a social media account at all, new UNSW Sydney research suggests.
A recent study from UNSW Sydney reveals that the age at which teenagers begin using social media may have a greater impact on their mental health than merely possessing an account. Conducted on 365 Australian adolescents aged 10 to 15 and their parents, the survey found that those who started using social media at a younger age reported higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms.
The research, published in JAMA Network Open, indicates that simply having a social media account showed a weaker connection to those symptoms. Australia's social media ban, implemented in December 2025, aimed to address growing concerns about rising anxiety and depression among young people and the increasing prevalence of social media use.
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