Sleep deprivation due to social media

Researchers from University College London report that teenagers who spend a long time on social media are at an increased risk of depression and poor sleep.

Girls seem to be particularly vulnerable. The study is based on interviews with almost 11,000 14-year-olds so it relies on accurate memory, but it appears 38% of girls who spend five hours or more a day on social media show symptoms of depression, compared with 20% of girls who spend one to three hours.

Among boys, only one in seven of the heaviest social media users suffer from depression, compared with one in 14 of lighter users.

The study also found that girls tend to spend more time on social media: two-fifths are on it for at least three hours a day, compared to only one-fifth of boys. And whereas one in 10 boys never use it at all, the proportion of non-users among girls was only one in 25.

The heaviest social media users tended to have more sleep problems and the children with the worst sleep were more likely to suffer symptoms of depression.

Time spent online also increased the chances of being bullied there, which is also linked to depression and poor sleep. Girls are more likely to be bullied than boys.

Mind you, it could be that children with depressive symptoms are more attracted to social media.