Scrutinizing the Effects of Digital Technology on Mental Health

an article by Jonathan Haidt (New York University Stern School of Business, USA) and Nick Allen (University of Oregon, Eugene, USA) published in Nature Volume 578 (February 2020) [brought to us via the World of Psychology blog]

There is an ongoing debate around whether social media and the use of digital devices are harmful to mental health. In this article, two scientists share their differing opinions on this topic and give strong support to back their claims.

The topic in brief

• There is an ongoing debate about whether social media and the use of digital devices are detrimental to mental health.
• Adolescents tend to be heavy users of these devices, and especially of social media.
• Rates of teenage depression began to rise around 2012, when adolescent use of social media became common (Fig. 1).
• Some evidence indicates that frequent users of social media have higher rates of depression and anxiety than do light users.
• But perhaps digital devices could provide a way of gathering data about mental health in a systematic way, and make interventions more timely.

Full text (PDF 2pp)

Labels:
digital_technology, social_media, mental_health,

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