TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A recent study by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and Deakin University in Australia found that teenage girls may face a higher risk of mental health problems linked to social media use compared with boys.
The findings were based on a 10-year study involving nearly 1,200 young people in Melbourne, as researchers examined how teenagers' digital habits affected their psychological well-being over time.
The study tracked participants' screen time and social media use, finding that by the ages of 17 and 18, both boys and girls spent more than two hours a day using electronic devices.
However, researchers found that the potential impact of social media was not the same for both genders.
Teenage girls were found to face nearly double the risk of depression associated with higher social media use compared with boys.
"Early adolescence stands out as a time when higher levels of social media use are linked to a greater risk of mental health problems one year on," researcher Nandi Vijayakumar said, as quoted by Earth on Monday, June 22, 2026.
Why Are Teenage Girls More Vulnerable?
Several factors may make this period of adolescence more challenging. Girls typically enter puberty one to two years earlier than boys, while the brain regions responsible for managing intense emotions are still developing.
This stage often overlaps with the time when many teenagers create their first social media accounts, exposing them to online comparisons, conflicts, and harmful content.
At the same age, girls also tend to report higher levels of depression and anxiety than boys, a pattern that has been observed for decades.
A UK-based study cited by the researchers found similar results. Girls aged 11 to 13 who used social media more frequently reported lower life satisfaction one year later, while older teenagers did not show the same pattern.
Social Media Is Not Entirely Negative
Despite the concerns, researchers emphasized that social media does not always produce harmful effects for teenagers.
The platforms can also provide positive benefits when used appropriately, including opportunities to build friendships, find communities, and even generate income.
The study found that many young people use social media as a source of social support and connection, suggesting that the impact depends largely on how the platforms are used.
Australia’s Growing Debate Over Social Media Rules
Susan Sawyer, one of the researchers involved in the study, also highlighted Australia's recent social media regulations, saying they emerged from growing concerns about the effects of online platforms on teenagers' mental health.
Despite these concerns, the researchers said evidence of population-level impacts has remained limited, making their findings particularly significant.
“Despite all this, robust evidence of population-level impacts has remained limited, making our findings particularly significant,” the study noted.
At the same time, many teenagers report that social media helps them feel connected and express themselves, a perspective the study acknowledges.
“Our results don’t suggest that social media is universally harmful but it’s not without some harms,” Professor Sawyer said.
“It reinforces the need for age-appropriate limits, better education and literacy programs and clearer parental guidance.”
The findings add to a wider global debate over how governments, families, and technology companies should respond to the challenges posed by social media use among young people.
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