Until now, we have never reproduced in this newsletter an article from a scientific journal, although some of them would have deserved it. We have always preferred to offer summaries. But an exception is not a habit. Yet the current debates about the harmful influence of social networks, which are pushing the government to want to ban them for minors under 15, lead us to reproduce an editorial from the prestigious journal The Lancet on the question of social networks.
This editorial, from volume 404, issue 10461, was published on 12 October 2024. It concerns an article published in the same journal, which can be found with these details: Moran, Paul et al., The Lancet, Volume 404, Issue 10461, 1445–1492, October 12, 2024.
Here is a presentation of it.
Harmful influencers? Social networks and young people’s mental health
Today, teenagers spend a large part of their time in the digital world. They chat on social networks, watch videos on YouTube or TikTok and attach great importance to “likes” and comments. According to the latest studies, more than a third of teenagers have regular contact online, and about 1 young person in 10 shows excessive use, close to addiction. These young people find it hard to do without social networks, feel anxious or sad when they cannot use them, neglect other activities and see their daily lives affected.
For some fifteen years, the rise of social networks has been accompanied by an increase in mental disorders and self-harming behaviour among 10- to 24-year-olds. This trend worries many experts and public health officials, who are asking about the real impact of social networks on young people’s wellbeing.
Life, for young people as for adults, is likely to become more and more digital. However, concerns are growing about children and teenagers, who are often exposed to social networks without any real parental control. Platforms use algorithms and targeted advertising designed to hold attention for as long as possible. Young people are thus exposed to content promoting alcohol, fast food, vaping or gambling, which benefits the platforms financially.
Adolescence is a key period of development. The brain is still under construction, which makes young people more sensitive to outside influences. At the same time, they are seeking to build their identity and gain autonomy, which explains why emotional difficulties are common at this age. These findings fuel the debate: should access to smartphones be limited? Should phones be banned at school? Should laws be introduced to protect young people better?
Even so, researchers struggle to establish a direct and clear link between social network use and the increase in mental disorders. The available studies give contrasting results. For some young people, social networks may even have positive effects, by breaking isolation, facilitating peer support or giving access to help and therapy resources.
Scientists nevertheless agree on one point: more research is needed. The mere time spent online is not enough to explain the effects of social networks. Experiences vary greatly from one young person to another. Moreover, other important factors have changed in recent years, such as rising social inequalities, difficulties in accessing employment or worries linked to climate change. If social networks have an impact on mental health, it is probably real but limited, and adds to other causes.
It is essential to adopt a holistic view of mental health. Self-harming behaviour, which now affects an alarming number of young people, is strongly influenced by social factors such as poverty, inequality, racism or exclusion. Indigenous populations, notably young people, are particularly affected, in connection with the lasting effects of colonisation and discrimination.
Reducing teenagers’ suffering therefore requires collective action: improving living conditions, strengthening support services and building more supportive communities. If young people spend a significant part of their lives online, they must be able to do so in a safe environment, without manipulation.
The role of parents is essential. Talking with your child, taking an interest in their digital uses, setting clear rules that suit their age and staying alert to signs of distress are important levers. The aim is not to ban systematically, but to accompany young people so that they can move in a safer and more balanced digital environment.
