Social Media and Technology Is Linked to Higher Depression Rates in Girls, According to Study

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The impact of social media on the lives of youth is something we are all aware of. One recent study of nearly 11,000 14-year-old girls in the UK uncovered some very worrisome trends. These include:

those who spend eight or more hours a day using technology were five times more likely to feel depressed or sad, almost every day
these girls were also less likely to be involved in any sort of extracurricular activity, such as sports, band, or youth clubs
girls who spent the most time using technology and social media were 24 times more likely to want to change their physical appearance than those who spent fewer than four hours a day with technology
that the amount of time spent on social media was found to heighten the perception of distrust in girls' relationships with one another
It lowered girls’ overall enthusiasm for school

Research suggests link between social media use and depressive symptoms was stronger for girls compared with boys.