A new study by researchers at Ghent University and the University of Antwerp has found no strong scientific evidence that social media use directly harms the mental health of young people.
The research team, led by Professor Ernst Koster, a clinical psychology expert at Ghent University, analysed 40 separate studies examining the relationship between social media use and adolescent well-being. The findings revealed mixed results: while some studies suggested negative effects, others reported positive or neutral outcomes, with no clear causal link between social media use and mental health issues.
According to the study, most previous research in this field was short-term—spanning only days or weeks—making it insufficient to draw conclusions about long-term effects. The authors noted a recurring tendency to assume that social media use is inherently harmful, despite evidence that its impact is often minimal or non-existent. They stressed the need for more robust research methods in future studies.
The study also highlighted the lack of clarity in defining “social media use,” with many studies failing to distinguish whether they were measuring platforms, devices, types of interactions, the nature of content consumed, or patterns of usage.
Professor Koster cautioned against directly linking social media to mental health crises among young people, noting that while certain individuals—such as those with low self-esteem or a tendency to compare themselves to others—may experience negative effects, these cases do not represent a universal outcome.
