Balanced Social Media Use Benefits Teen Mental Health

Spending the right amount of time on social media might actually help teenagers thrive, according to groundbreaking Australian research that's reshaping how we think about screens and young people.

University of Adelaide researchers followed more than 100,000 students from Year 4 to Year 12 over three years. What they discovered surprised everyone: both heavy social media users and complete abstainers reported worse wellbeing than peers with moderate use.

"It's not simply 'more social media equals worse wellbeing'," lead researcher Dr. Ben Singh told ABC. The sweet spot appeared to be less than 12.5 hours per week after school, with both extremes showing concerning patterns.

The research revealed fascinating differences by age and gender. For girls in early primary school, no social media correlated with the highest wellbeing. But by middle school, moderate users were doing better than those completely offline.

Boys showed an even more surprising pattern. In late adolescence, boys who avoided social media entirely reported poorer wellbeing than even heavy users. Dr. Singh explained this happens because social media becomes central to how many boys maintain friendships and feel connected to their peer group during this developmental stage.

The study measured wellbeing across eight indicators including happiness, optimism, life satisfaction, worry, sadness, perseverance, emotional regulation, and cognitive engagement. Researchers emphasized that abstinence doesn't cause poor wellbeing, but complete avoidance might signal unmet social needs, especially for older boys.

The Bright Side

This research arrives at a crucial moment as Australia implements its social media ban for children under 16. Rather than doom and gloom about screens, the findings point toward practical solutions that respect how young people actually live.

Caroline Thain from youth mental health organization Headspace said teenagers have shown mixed reactions to the ban. Some feel relieved from pressure and comparison, while others feel frustrated and unheard. Young people consistently ask to be part of the conversation about their digital lives.

The research team emphasized that policies should move beyond simple screen time limits. Instead, they recommend focusing on balanced, age appropriate, and purposeful social media use that adapts as children grow.

Dr. Singh's team found that both excessive restriction and excessive use can be problematic, depending on age and gender. Platform design, algorithms, and online safety matter just as much as how many hours kids spend scrolling.

The study received funding from Australia's Medical Research Future Fund, the Australian Research Council, and the National Health and Medical Research Council. A similar study from Curtin University in Perth reached comparable conclusions last November.

Parents and policymakers now have evidence that the real answer isn't found in all or nothing approaches but in helping young people develop healthy, balanced relationships with technology as they grow.