The moral panic over social media and teen depression
That's not because researchers aren't looking for such a causal link, because they definitely are, and have been for some time. But despite all of the studies, there is still an almost complete lack of any evidence that social media use causes anxiety or depression in young adults.
Mathew Ingram
https://torment-nexus.mathewingram.com/the-moral-panic-over-social-media-and-teen-depression/
@evistre
Yep.
There are a ton of social and cultural factors leading to the rise of teen depression. None are addressed by this moral panic.
@corlin
It causes anxiety and depression in me but I'm 60 so it's my own fault
social media can raise, heighten, anxiety and does have an effect on people who are already suffering from depression and can lead to suicidal thoughts and even push some over the edge
But yeah it ain't the root cause some get that mixed up and confuse the two as one
@ecksmc
Yes agreed.
The bleak future of, economic, environmental, and social disruption. Are far more important.
@corlin When I was young, hardly anyone struggled with depression. It's hard to believe, but true. I grew up in a country that went through hell. No power, hot water, or food sometimes, yet we were "fine." We played on the streets until midnight, cooked stolen potatoes on fires, and we all had problems either within family or outside, no one had enough money to buy some cool stuff, which wasn't even available at that time...but we all were "fine"...
@corlin I'm not a scientist, but I'm pretty sure being a teenager/young adult is most of what causes anxiety and depression. Tough life stages.