Addictive screen use, not screen time, linked to worse mental health in teens

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-06-19 01:00

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***This media release contains information some readers may find distressing as it refers to data about mental health, suicide and self-harm. If you or anyone you know needs help, support is available now. Call Lifeline (Aus) on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or Lifeline (NZ) on 0800 543 354. ***

US teens showing high and increasing addictive use of social media and mobile phones were linked to two to three times greater risk of suicidal behaviour and ideation compared to kids with low addictive use patterns, according to international research. Researchers surveyed more than 4000 US kids and teens over four years for how addictively they used social media, mobile phones, and video games. Addictive use was common: for example, they found almost one in two youths were highly addicted to using mobile phones. Until now, research into screen use and mental health has focused on screen time, but the team says these new findings suggest that focusing research and interventions on addictive behaviour rather than total screen time may hold more promise.