Latest news with #JasonNagata
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Experts suggest that THIS common habit could be making kids depressed
Alarming rates of youth depression prompt urgent questions from parents. A UCSF study reveals a link between increased social media use in preteens and a rise in depressive symptoms. Researchers found that as children's social media time increased, so did their depression. Cyberbullying and disrupted sleep are potential contributing factors. 'Why is my child depressed?' - Most parents today are asking themselves this question. As the rates of depression and related suicide among youth are rising at an alarming pace, many parents are left grappling for answers. Is it academic pressure? Bullying? Hormonal changes? New research suggests that there might be something more insidious at play, something that's hidden in plain sight. A new study by researchers at the UC San Francisco has found the answers to it. The experts looked at whether social media was making kids depressed or if the depressed kids simply spent more time on social media. The findings published in JAMA Network Open were shocking. Causes of depression in kids The researchers found that as preteens used more social media, their symptoms of depression increased. However, what was surprising was that it isn't true that kids who became more depressed didn't start using social media more later. In the study, which took over three years, the researchers found that children's social media use rose from seven to 73 minutes per day. This also led to a 35% increase in their depressive symptoms. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo The researchers examined data of tracked nearly 12,000 children, starting when they were 9 to 10 years old and following up three years later at ages 12 to 13. 'There has been ongoing debate about whether social media contributes to depression or simply reflects underlying depressive symptoms. These findings provide evidence that social media may be contributing to the development of depressive symptoms,' Jason Nagata, MD, MSc, who led the study and is an associate professor in UCSF's Department of Pediatrics, said, in a statement. Findings Though it is unclear why social media increases depressive symptoms, previous research has suggested that cyberbullying and disrupted sleep could be some of the contributing factors. The same researchers have recently published a separate study in The Lancet Regional Health on the effects of cyberbullying. That study suggested that kids aged between 11 to 12 years who were cyberbullied were 2.62 times more likely to report suicidal ideation or a suicide attempt one year later. Also, those children were 2.31 times more likely to be involved in substance abuse (4.65 times more likely with marijuana, 3.37 with nicotine, and 1.92 with alcohol) in the following year. Early signs of myopia seen in kids What can be done So, how can depression in children be addressed effectively? The American Academy of Pediatrics suggested using the tools in its Family Media Plan to create healthier digital habits for both kids and parents. 'As a father of two young kids, I know that simply telling children to 'get off your phone' doesn't really work. Parents can lead by example with open, nonjudgmental conversations about screen use. Setting screen-free times for the whole family, such as during meals or before bed, can help build healthier digital habits for everyone, including adults,' Nagata added. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Toronto Sun
16-06-2025
- Health
- Toronto Sun
Social media use predicts future depression in tweens, new study shows
Published Jun 16, 2025 • Last updated 5 minutes ago • 5 minute read Group of children read social media on mobile phones. Technologies that spoil childhood. Photo by Getty Images Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. As American adolescents experience both declining mental health and rising exposure to social media, parents and researchers alike have tried to better understand the link between the two: Does social media fuel mental health struggles? Or are struggling kids more likely to turn to social media? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account A new study indicates a possible answer. When researchers at the University of California at San Francisco examined social media use and depressive symptoms among tweens over a three-year period, they found that an increase in social media use predicted a future rise in symptoms of depression – but not the other way around. The study, published in May in the journal JAMA Network Open, followed nearly 12,000 preteens over three years starting at age 9 to 10. The lead author of the study, Jason Nagata, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California at San Francisco, spoke to The Washington Post about his team's findings and observations. – – – Social media use jumped during the tween years, and depression symptoms followed Daily social media use among study participants surged tenfold over those years, from about 7 minutes per day at age 9, to 74 minutes per day by age 13. During that same time frame, reported depression symptoms jumped 35 percent. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Social media does seem to be a risk factor for future depression, or worsening depressive symptoms,' Nagata says. 'But kids who were already depressed didn't necessarily report using social media more in subsequent years.' The emergence of this pattern, he says, is 'a new finding.' The data was drawn from the national Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, which includes a racially and economically diverse sample of children in the largest long-term study of brain development and child health ever conducted in the U.S., Nagata says: 'One of the advantages of this study, over prior studies, is that it follows these same kids, every year.' Other factors – such as genetics or societal influences, like the pandemic – can also play a role in determining whether a child might develop depression, Nagata says. But while those are largely outside individual control, he notes, identifying social media as a factor is significant because 'to some extent, people can make changes in their daily lives' to reduce that risk. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. – – – Efforts to restrict access to social media don't seem to be working 'Technically, the minimum age requirement for most social media platforms is 13 years old,' Nagata says – yet at the start of their study, 20 percent of 9- and 10-year-olds had social media accounts, and by age 11 or 12, two-thirds of them did. On average, those children had accounts on three platforms, Nagata says; TikTok was the most common, followed by Instagram and Snapchat. This is something policymakers should be aware of, he says. 'To me, this study shows that age verification does not work currently. Even though we have rules and laws, it does seem like most kids are tech savvy enough that they can get around them.' – – – Cyberbullying is a possible driver of depressive symptoms Using data from the same cohort of adolescents, Nagata and his colleagues also conducted a separate study – published in the Lancet Regional Health – Americas journal – that helps explain why social media might be predictive of depression symptoms. That study found that children age 11 to 12 who experienced cyberbullying were more than twice as likely to report experiencing suicidal ideation or a suicide attempt within the following year; they were also more than twice as likely to experiment with substance use, including marijuana, alcohol and tobacco, Nagata says. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Cyberbullying, he says, is a singular torment for tweens. 'In general, with school-based bullying, you know who the perpetrator is, and they're doing it to your face, and they're limited to bullying activities when you're physically in the presence of each other,' he says. But with cyberbullying, 'the bullying can be constant, in your bedroom, overnight. And sometimes the bullies are anonymous. It can be adults, it can be from a fake account, it can be from somebody across the world.' – – – Phone use is displacing other crucial activities, like sleep Another way that social media use might cause or intensify depressive symptoms is simply through 'displacement,' Nagata says: 'We only have 24 hours in the day, and the more time that kids are spending on screens and on social media, even if content is fine and they're not being bullied – that's still time that they're not spending doing other things that could be good for their health, like sleep or physical activity.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Sleep, in particular, is critical for mental health, physical health and brain development, he says, which is why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids put phones away an hour before bedtime. 'But we found that that window was the most active time of use for most of these preteens,' he says. 'Right before bed, they're messaging friends from their bedroom.' Their research found that 63 percent of those teens reported that they had a phone or electronic device in their bedroom overnight, he says, and 17 percent said they had been awakened by notifications within the past week. 'The best thing is to have the phone outside the room,' he says. – – – Parents need a plan – which includes evaluating their own screen use For parents, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends creating a family media plan for the household – and parents will need to follow those agreed-upon guidelines, too, Nagata notes: 'One of the biggest predictors of preteen screen use is adult screen use.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. As parents choose their battles, he adds, he recommends focusing on limits around bedtime and mealtimes. Research has also shown that when people are distracted by screens while eating, 'they tend to overeat, even when they're not hungry,' he says; and they also miss out on the opportunity to have conversation and connection with their family. 'To the extent possible that we can make sure that media use isn't affecting [a child's] sleep, that it isn't replacing in-person activities or physical activities – those are ways that you can really try to mitigate the harms.' And now is as good a time as any to create a new family plan: 'Depending on what kids are doing over the summer, there could be big changes in media use ahead,' he says. 'So this is a good time for parents to be having these discussions.' For more health news and content around diseases, conditions, wellness, healthy living, drugs, treatments and more, head to – a member of the Postmedia Network. Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls World Toronto & GTA Canada
Vancouver Sun
29-05-2025
- Health
- Vancouver Sun
Yes, social media could be making your kids depressed, study finds
Any potential link between social media use and kids' mental health often comes down to a what-came-first conundrum: does more time glued to TikTok, Snapchat or Instagram make youth more depressed, or are distressed kids just more likely to spend more time on social media? A new study suggests it's the former, not the latter, at play. Researchers who followed nearly 12,000 children found the more time nine- and 10-year-olds spend engaged with social media, the more depressive symptoms they have a year or two years later. Kids' social media use soared, on average, from seven to 73 minutes per day, over the three years of the study, and their depressive symptoms rose by 35 per cent, according to the paper, published in JAMA Network Open. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The study is the first to use a 'within-person' approach, meaning researchers tracked changes over time in each child, and not between kids. 'There has been ongoing debate about whether social media contributes to depression or simply reflects underlying depressive symptoms,' lead author Dr. Jason Nagata, an associate professor in the department of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, said in a background news release. 'These findings provide evidence that social media may be contributing to the development of depressive symptoms.' It's not clear why. However, adolescence can make for a 'critical period of vulnerability during which social media exposure may have lasting implications for mental health,' the researchers wrote. 'As a father of two young kids, I know that simply telling children to 'get off your phone' doesn't really work,' Nagata said. 'Parents can lead by example with open, nonjudgmental questions about screen use,' he said. 'Setting screen-free times for the whole family, such as during meals or before bed, can help build healthier habits for everyone, including adults.' The researchers used data from an ongoing study spanning 21 sites, the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, the biggest longitudinal study — meaning it's following young people over multiple time points — of adolescent health, brain and cognitive development in the U.S. The study recruited children aged nine to 10 from October 2016 to October 2018, and followed them through 2022, when they were 12 to 13. Kids were asked questions about the number of hours and minutes spent per weekday and weekend day on social media. Depression scores were measured by having parents fill out a widely used questionnaire used to detect behavioural and emotional problems in children and teens. The researchers wanted to explore whether changes in social media use over time preceded shifts in symptoms of depression, or vice versa. 'Young people who are depressed might be more likely to spend more time on their phones or social media as a way to cope, or as a way to escape, because they're looking for feedback loops that reaffirm negative thoughts,' said Canadian co-author Kyle Ganson, an assistant professor in the faculty of social work at the University of Toronto. The team found that as time on social media increased from one year to year two, and year two to year three, so did depression scores. However, the reverse wasn't true — 'a rise in depressive symptoms didn't predict a later increase in social media use,' according to the background release. It's not the first study to find a dose-response association, meaning more time was associated with higher depression scores. However, the researchers don't know what, exactly, the kids were doing online. 'Obviously time is one thing but content is another,' Ganson said. 'Texting or DMing (direct messaging) with friends or sharing memes — some of that might actually be very pro-social and very positive and very connecting for young people,' he said. 'Whereas doomscrolling and getting lost in social media rabbit holes might be more isolating and lead to more comparisons, which could lead to more depression,' Ganson said. 'We don't have a direct answer as to why' more time on phones and screens were associated with more depressive symptoms. 'Multiple factors are likely playing into it,' he said. 'These young people might be going to social media as a way to escape difficult family conflict or difficult family issues.' They may have lower self-esteem 'and so they gravitate towards social media because it feels a bit safer, but it isolates them from their peers' and exposes them to negative content. According to a recent Macdonald-Laurier Institute report, Wired for Worry , while one to two hours a day of social media use has been associated with positive mental health outcomes, 'mental health worsens as use increased beyond that,' and that 'the preponderance of the evidence indicates that social media is a major contributor to, and likely a leading cause, of declining youth mental health.' One side note of the latest work is that the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study relied on parental reports of depressive symptoms, 'which I think does make sense given the age of some of these young people,' Ganson said. However, 'parents only have a perception of their children. They don't have an internal experience.' For youth, 'We can't think of social media as benign,' Ganson said. 'We're not going to take it away — it's impossible to take this away from young people. It's less about taking it away and more about moderating it, making sure you're finding ways to socialize with peers in person, through extracurriculars, through sports, through groups, through art, through theatre, music — whatever it might be. 'Finding those activities that take you off of the screen, that make you feel good about yourself.' Parents can help by encouraging 'in-person socialization,' he said, and putting limitations around screen time and social media use, like no phones in the bedroom, 'or being aware of what your kids are doing online. Doing regular check-ins with your kids about what they're doing on social media, what kinds of interests they have. So that it's not just, 'Oh, my kid's in the corner or in their room with the door locked on social media.' 'It's about being very open with communication and helping them navigate these different areas,' Ganson said. Parents should also check their own screen time, 'because that does obviously influence their kids' behaviour as well.' National Post Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here .
India Today
22-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
Yes, social media is making kids depressed
As depression and suicidal thoughts among young people become an alarming global concern, doctors and scientists are trying to understand what role social media might play in this mental health crisis.A new study by researchers at the University of California adds important insights to this ongoing study, published in JAMA Network Open, followed nearly 12,000 children from the ages of 9 to 13. Researchers tracked how much time they spent on social media and also recorded signs of depression during that What they found was clear: when social media use increased, so did the children's depressive the opposite wasn't true. Children who were already feeling low or depressed were not more likely to start using social media than average, the amount of time pre-teens spent on social media went from 7 minutes a day to 73 minutes a day over the three the same time, their depressive symptoms, which include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or lack of interest, rose by 35%. Mobile phone use increasing depression symptoms in teenagers. () Dr. Jason Nagata, the lead author and associate professor of paediatrics at UCSF, explained that this study is one of the first to track the same children over findings provide evidence that social media may be contributing to the development of depressive symptoms,' he study didn't explore the exact reasons why social media causes these emotional changes, but past research points to several possibilities. One is cyberbullying, which means being bullied online. Another is disrupted sleep, especially when teenagers stay up late using phones and miss out on Nagata's team recently published another study showing that kids who are cyberbullied are more than twice as likely to have thoughts of suicide and also more likely to try substances like alcohol, marijuana, or though social media can cause harm, it also plays a big part in how children today connect with friends and express themselves. That's why experts recommend helping kids use it in healthier ways rather than banning it American Academy of Pediatrics suggests families create a Family Media Plan: a guide to help kids and parents decide when and how to use Nagata advises parents to have open conversations and set screen-free times, like during meals or before bedtime, for the whole Watch
Hindustan Times
09-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Virginia bill restricts teen social media usage to 1 hour per day, requiring parental consent to adjust time limit
The ill effects of social media on impressionable teenage minds are already well known. Whether it's screen addiction from doomscrolling all day, developing body image issues, or facing serious anxiety and depression caused by cyberbullying and constant social comparison, the negative impact of social media is alarming. This has led many to advocate for limiting social media usage to safeguard teenagers' mental health. Taking a step in that direction, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has signed a bill aimed at restricting how much time children can spend on these platforms. ALSO READ: Screens and teens: Loneliness to obsessive thoughts, how screen addiction affects their mental health As per the Fox 5 report, the bill is an amendment to the Consumer Data Protection Act that limits minors under 16 to only one hour of social media usage per day on each platform. The time cap is strictly controlled, restricting social media usage for teenagers to just one hour. Parents can monitor social media usage, as only with their consent can the screen time limit be reduced or increased. The amendment also sets a rule for social media platforms to ask for the user's age in a neutral way, that is, without nudging them toward giving a particular answer. Moreover any data to be used only for age verification. Previously, a Feb 2025 study, published in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, revealed how serious mental health conditions are associated with long hours of social media consumption among teenagers. It is quite alarming, as with widespread social media usage, concerning behavioural issues have been seen, such as increased manic symptoms, problematic screen use, and sleep disturbances. Dr. Jason Nagata, a paediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals and the lead author of the study, said, 'Policymakers need to look at TikTok as a systemic social media issue and create effective measures that protect children online." ALSO READ: Children glued to screens? Expert shares a detailed guide for parents to encourage healthy tech habits Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
