NEWS BRIEFING: Young Aussies’ social media use linked to poorer mental health

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-06-12 00:01

Australia; VIC

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**BRIEFING RECORDING AVAILABLE** Six months into Australia’s social media ban for under 16s, a decade-long study led by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) has found young people who spend two hours or more a day on social media are more likely to experience depressive symptoms and poorer wellbeing than those whose use is limited to an hour or less. The research, which included 1,200 children from Melbourne,  found the strongest impact on mental health among girls aged 12–13, although small but noticeable increases in mental health problems were seen in both genders between the ages of 12 and 18. Although this increase in risk was small, the study authors say it could affect significant numbers of people at the population level. The researchers say their findings suggest interventions in early adolescence may be the most effective way of preventing mental health problems from developing in young people. Join us for this online media briefing, when two of the study’s authors will present their findings and take questions from journalists.