Highly publicized internet use, particularly social media use, and its impact on the mental health of teens has fueled fears about the potential negative effects of the internet. However, a University of Oxford study found that online use was not associated with psychological or psychological effects in any age group, including young women, despite widespread concerns to the contrary.
The researchers specifically compared two studies. The first contrasts the psychological well-being of 2,434,203 people in 168 countries over 16 years with mobile broadband subscriptions and internet usage. Second, he studied data from 202 countries on three types of mental health designations (i.e., anxiety, depression, and self-harm) over a 19-year period. The Global Burden of Disease, on which the researchers based their results, defines anxiety disorders as “incorporating disorders caused by the experience of intense fear or distress in combination with other physiological symptoms.” “The overall cause incorporates major depressive disorder (MDD) and dysthymia disorders.” Self-harm is “intentionally inflicted bodily injury on oneself resulting in death or injury.”
The results were amazing. A meta-analysis failed to find a statistically significant association between internet use and mental health or psychological well-being. By working with such large amounts of data over long periods of time, the researchers hoped to prove whether the spread of the Internet could predict the psychological harm it would cause to the general public. The data was then analyzed to separate groups based on specific gender and age.
But the researchers instead found that no such convincing link exists. There were small positive and negative associations here and there, but such differences in the data were not scientifically meaningful. For example, the researchers found evidence that women’s life satisfaction increased more over the study period in the average country, but concluded that such outcomes were not statistically significant.
One of the researchers, Professor Andrew Przybylski of the Oxford Internet Institute, said in a press release: “We searched hard for the ‘smoking gun’ linking technology and happiness, but we couldn’t find it.”
While many shocking articles in the media claim that teenage girls are suffering from mental health problems because of the internet, researchers have found that such dire consequences related to online use are We found no evidence of a mental health epidemic. Instead, the researchers found that “there have been small and inconsistent changes in global well-being and mental health over the past two decades.” Categorizing the data into both gender- and age-based groups did not reveal any particular negative demographic patterns.
“We carefully tested whether there was anything special about age or gender, but there is no evidence to support the general idea that certain groups are more at risk,” Przybylski said.
The study also pointed out some flaws in previous research that portrayed the Internet as a harmful force. Claims of evidence of harm caused by the Internet included errors such as inaccurate measurements of engagement with the Internet and related technologies, biased convenience samples, and reliance on self-reported assessments.
However, further research is needed. Although this meta-analysis was “the first to study this topic from a global perspective,” the authors noted the need for investigation into other demographic, economic, and cultural factors that were outside the scope of the study. I especially emphasized that.
The results of this study are consistent with a significant amount of previous research reported by Techdirt, including several other Oxford studies.
- In the fall of 2022, the widely respected Pew Research Center conducted a major study on children and the internet and found that the vast majority of teens use social media. It was far more helpful than harmful..
- In May 2023, the American Psychological Association (which has been involved in technology moral panics like video games in the past) released a huge, incredibly detailed and nuanced report that looked at all the evidence. No causal relationship found Between social media and harm to teens.
- Shortly after, the U.S. Surgeon General released a report that was widely misrepresented in the press. However, the details of that report also show that: No causal relationship was found Between social media and harm to teens.that did It still recommends acting as if there is a link, which is strange and explains the media reports, while the actual reports do not emphasize causality, while It also points out how young people are benefiting from social media).
- A few months later, the results of an Oxford University study involving approximately 1 million people in 72 countries were published. no evidence found Social media causes psychological harm.
- The Journal of Pediatrics published a new study in fall 2023 that, after decades of research, found that the mental health epidemic faced by young people is primarily due to: Lack of open spaces for kids to be kids without parents hovering above. The report said it investigated the idea that social media was part of the problem but found no data to support that claim.
- In November 2023, the University of Oxford published yet another study. This specifically focuses on screen time and if increased screen time is found to be having a negative impact on children. No data found to support that claim.
Despite a wealth of evidence against internet-related mental health concerns, many companies are proactively taking steps to ensure web surfing is safe for everyone. In addition to the individual efforts that technology companies are making to promote a safer internet, they are also forming partnerships specifically to ensure consumer trust and online safety. The Digital Trust & Safety Partnership aims to bring together technology companies large and small to “develop industry best practices and validate their implementation through independent third-party evaluations.”
While this study may provide a reassuring counterpoint to overblown fears, it is a global study that aggregates millions of data points and does not necessarily negate the need for internet safety measures. It is important to note that there is no This is exactly why technology companies are taking the initiative to ensure everyone, including teens, is safe online.
