The more time girls aged between 11 and 13 spend on social media, the less likely they are to be satisfied with life a year later, a study suggests.
The UK study, in Nature Communications, shows the same pattern for boys aged 14 to 15, and 19-year-old boys and girls.
Scientists speculate the vulnerability to social media at particular ages may be linked to brain, hormonal and social changes during adolescent development.
They say more research is needed to fully understand and prove the link.
Researchers, from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford and the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, say social media companies need to share more of their own data with scientists to allow further research.
Experts say social media can be a force for good, such as helping young people maintain social contact during the Covid pandemic.
Lead researcher Dr Amy Orben said the link between social media use and mental wellbeing was very complex, with studies so far showing mixed results.
She added: "Changes within our bodies, such as brain development and puberty, and in our social circumstances appear to make us vulnerable at particular times of our lives.
"We can now focus on the periods of adolescence where we know we might be most at risk, and use this as a springboard to explore some really interesting questions."
Researchers examined a large UK household survey of more than 72,000 people, who were asked to report how satisfied they were with life and how much time they spent talking to friends on social media on a typical day.
They were surveyed up to seven times between 2011 and 2018.
Young adolescents showed the most negative relationship between social media use and life satisfaction overall.
The self-reported survey found:
Scientists then focused on a smaller group of 17,409 10 to 21-year-olds to investigate whether present day social media use has an impact on future life satisfaction.
They looked at snapshot surveys of each person's self-reported life-satisfaction and self-reported social media use over seven years.
The study suggests among girls aged 11 to 13, those who had increased their social media in the last 12 months use were less satisfied with life a year later.
Researchers say their work cannot predict which individuals are most at risk. And they say many other factors – such as the exact nature of social media content and the people they are interacting with online – will have an impact on teenage well-being too.
They accept for some people, social media will have an overall positive impact, allowing them to connect with friends and find valuable support.
Prof Bernadka Dubicka, an expert in child mental health at the University of Manchester, said: "This is an interesting study, reflects the complexity seen in vulnerable adolescents in clinical practice, and finally moves away from the unhelpful dichotomy about whether social media is or isn't harmful.
"This study only covers a period up to 2018 – since then, social media use has become ever more prominent in young people's lives, particularly during the pandemic, and emotional difficulties, notably in older adolescent girls, have risen significantly.
"It will be vital to build on this research to understand both the harmful as well as supportive role of social media in young people's lives."
Teens 'rebelling against social media'
Social media gets in the way of teens' sleep and exercise
Social media 'torment' for teens
More drone attacks against Russia in Crimea – reports
Finnish PM reveals she has taken drug test
Ex-Briton 'Isis Beatle' sentenced to life in prison
Peace at a price in the Taliban’s heartlands
Waiting 38 years for a soldier lost on an icy battlefield
How much grain is being shipped from Ukraine?
Remembering the painful journey from Pakistan to India. Video
The TikTok comedy stars trying to make it on stage
Leaping, lava and lights: Photos of the week
The castle at the centre of the Nazi's obsession with ancient myths
Did Freya the 94-stone walrus have to die?
Strikes near nuclear plant a concern for all – UN chief
Turkey's massive subterranean city
The language with no known origin
Why overthinkers struggle with remote work
© 2022 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
About Author
